Cyprus referendum rejects Annan Plan,
but not a political solution to conflict

Steven Katsineris

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is blaming the 
Cypriot President and government for the failure of the Annan 
Plan, which was rejected by a majority of the people in Cyprus in 
the recent referendum and equating this outcome as also a 
rejection of a solution to the conflict.

These criticisms are unfair and grossly offensive towards the 
Cypriot people and government, the very ones who have suffered 
most from the occupation and strived tirelessly and patiently to 
find a just and viable settlement to the partition of the island.

The rejection of the Annan Plan was not a vote against a 
resolution or against the Turkish Cypriots.

The government of Cyprus continues to work towards a solution and 
actively supports Turkish Cypriots with various measures.

Annan should look a lot closer to home when apportioning any 
fault for the results of the vote, as it was the weakness of the 
Annan Plan that was to blame and Kofi Annan is largely 
responsible for that himself.

The Plan was designed to suit the interests of Turkey and its 
supporters not that of the Cypriots.

It is one thing for the UN to propose and help draft agreements 
towards getting opposing parties together to find a solution to 
division and another to take the decisions away from the 
legitimate Cyprus government and the Cypriot people and try to 
impose a settlement.

The UN promoted a solution that satisfied Turkey, the US, EU, 
etc, but largely neglected the feelings, aspirations and views of 
the Cypriot side.

The UN and others showed flagrant disregard for the very real 
concerns of Cypriots, whose experiences with Turkey are vastly 
different to those who live in the comfort and relative safety of 
NY and other places.

It is the Cypriot people who would have to live with the 
consequences of an inferior plan, one that left most Turkish 
troops and settlers in north Cyprus with promises from Turkey to 
respect an agreement built on hopes of Turkish goodwill.

It should be remembered that for 30 years Turkey ignored UN 
resolutions and critical reports from Human Rights organisations, 
the EU and other groups in relation to Cyprus.

Now that Turkey wants to enter the EU it is not right for the 
international community to ease the way for Turkey by ignoring 
the victims of its abuses and occupation and expecting them to 
accept anything on offer.

Not only that, but threaten and cajole Cypriots to accept.

Then when the people do not consent to the unfair and inadequate 
agreement blame them!

Does anyone really believe that rejecting the Annan Plan was 
anything other than a very painful, difficult and heart wrenching 
decision for Cypriots, especially refugees from the north to 
make.

Search for settlement continues

The referendum on the Annan Plan was not the end of the search 
for a Cyprus settlement, as statements and efforts by the Cyprus 
leadership including the Cypriot President, Papadopoulos, and the 
House President and Communist Party AKEL General Secretary 
Demetris Christofias have repeatedly stressed since.

The President of the Social Democrats Party EDEK, Yiannakis 
Omirou said at a press conference, "that the people rejected a 
plan that created a feeling of insecurity, injustice and 
dysfunctions — a plan that appointed Turkey as permanent 
guardian and Cyprus' overlord, the people rejected suggestions, 
admonitions and blackmailing dilemmas, foreign and domestic".

In May, Demetris Christofias stated that the result of the 
referendum should not be used to exert unwarranted outside 
pressure nor should it be seen as a tool in hasty policies that 
will not serve the purpose of promoting the long-sought 
settlement of the Cyprus problem. "The Cypriot people not only 
should not be subject to pressure from abroad, but on the 
contrary — the UN solution plan was rejected mainly due to 
serious concerns of the overwhelming majority of Greek Cypriots, 
connected with security issues and satisfactory Guarantees for 
implementation of a solution, the outcome — should be seen as 
the beginning of a new effort", said Demetris Christofias.

The wishes of Cypriot people and their democratic decisions 
should be respected and understood by the UN and the rest of 
international community and renewed efforts sought to promote an 
acceptable and workable solution to the division of Cyprus, one 
that overcomes the serious mistakes of the failed Annan Plan and 
bases itself on the real concerns and common interests of 
Cypriots first and foremost.

Cypriots have shown remarkable patience, tenacity, resilience and 
persistence to endure and persevere on their small island home. 
It is these same qualities that will ensure the bringing about of 
an ultimate peace and reunification.

* * *

Steven Katsineris is a Hobart-born writer of Cypriot 
background presently living in Victoria.