Cyprus Post-referendum
By John Katsigeorgis, for the Chronicle
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On 24 April 2004, the Greek Cypriots rejected by a three-to-one margin the plan proposed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the reunification of Cyprus. The plan, which was approved by a two-to-one margin by the Turkish Cypriots in a separate but simultaneous referendum, would have created a United Cyprus Republic and ensured that the entire island would reap the benefits of Cyprus’ entry into the European Union on 1 May.
The plan would have created a United Cyprus Republic consisting of a Greek Cypriot constituent state and a Turkish Cypriot constituent state linked by a federal government. More than half of the Greek Cypriots who were displaced in 1974 and their descendants would have had their properties returned back to them and would have lived in them under Greek Cypriot administration within a period of 31/2 to 42 months after the entry into force of the settlement. For those whose property could not be returned, they would have received monetary compensation.
On 7 April, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos called on his fellow Cypriots to reject the Secretary-General’s plan for reunification. Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, called on his compatriots to reject the plan as well. Both leaders said that it threatened the security and safety of each of their peoples and gave in to all the key demands of the other side. About 76 per cent of Greek Cypriots voted against the plan, while 65 per cent of Turkish Cypriots voted for it. Dimitris Christofias, the Greek Cypriot leader of the pro-unification AKEL party, said that more time was needed to explain the plan to the people and assure them that unification would be in their best interests.
One of the major problems with the plan for Greek Cypriots was their inability to buy back any lost property or new property in the Turkish Cypriot zone. The Secretary-General added this clause to help safeguard many of the poorer Turkish Cypriots, fearing that wealthier Greek Cypriots would immediately purchase large amounts of real estate and gain too much control in the area too quickly. Another major concern was the timetable set for reparations and movement back into the Turkish Cypriot zone.
The island split into two separate sectors in 1974 after Turkey intervened militarily in Cyprus following a coup led by Greek Cypriot officers against the Cyprus Government headed by President Makarios. Turkey established control over the northern third of the island. Since a defacto ceasefire, ceasefire lines and a bufferzone have been patrolled by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP),which also assumed humanitarian functions.
Since the referenda of 24 April 2004, consultations have been conducted with both communities and the guarantor powers of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The Secretary-General is also conducting a review, to be completed by September, of the mandate, security force levels and concept operations of UNFICYP.
On 11 June, the United Nations decided to extend the mandate until 15 December 2004.
James Cunningham of the United States said that the entry of Cyprus into the European Union had fundamentally changed the circumstances in Cyprus and necessitated a critical examination of UNFICYP, and that the Council should encourage Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to remain committed to the goal of reunification. The Secretary-General also urged Turkish Cypriot authorities to provide full freedom of movement for UNFICYP so that it could carry out its mandate more effectively.
Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto told the Security Council: “The people had at last decided for themselves. Their decision, on each side, must be respected. While the ultimate outcome of the effort of the past four and a half years had not been a success, a great deal had nevertheless been achieved. Those achievements should be built on, and a number of elements put in place, to keep alive the prospects of reconciliation and reunification in the future.” As to a solution to the Cyprus problem, the Secretary-General said it also needs bold and determined political leadership on both sides in the island, as well as in Greece and Turkey, all in place at the same time, ready to negotiate with determination and to convince their people of the need to compromise”. |
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