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Greece’s new conservative government expressed cautious support yesterday for a United Nations plan aimed at reuniting the island of Cyprus before it joins the European Union on May 1.
“The positive elements may prove to be stronger than the negative,” said Premier Costas Caramanlis. “We must not let the injustices prevent us from looking forward.”
Caramanlis said acceptance of the proposed deal - strongly supported by the United States - lies solely with the island’s partitioned Greek and Turkish communities which will hold separate referendums on April 24.
“We will totally respect the result of the referendum regardless of whether the Plan is accepted or not,” Caramanlis said after a four-hour meeting with Greek opposition party leaders.
His remarks, ending a two-week silence, are likely to have limited impact on Greek public opinion here and in Cyprus, where the plan is broadly perceived to be unfair and impractical.
Caramanlis said the Annan plan contained “both positive elements and difficulties. I personally believe that the European reality has the power to soften the difficulties. That is why I believe that within the context of the European context, the positive points outnumber the negatives”.
“Of course the final responsibility for the future of their country lies with the Cypriot citrizens. We will fully respect their decisions. And the day after the referendum will find Greece by the side of Cyprus...Our common effort does not end with the referendum, whatever the result.
“If the two communities say Yes, the Greek government will support with all its strength the new state in its first steps, will encourage the building of trust between the two communities and will take all measures for the full and effective implementation of the plan. If the plan is not accepted, the people’s will must be accepted by all. But in this case too, the prospect of a solution must not be lost. Efforts to bridgte differences between the two communities must continue”.
Statement
In Nicosia, President Tassos Papadopoulos read a brief statement thanking the Greek government and party leaders for their support. He referred in particular to Caramanlis’ statement that the Cypriot people had the responsibility to decide and that any decision would be fully respected and supported.
Turkish Cypriots are expected to vote Yes, despite the dogged opposition to the UN plan of their veteran leader, Rauf Denktash, and the disgruntlement of the powerful Turkish military which maintains more than 35.000 troops on the divided island.
Denktash told the Turkish parliament in Ankara the UN plan would bring “disaster”¨to his people and to Turkey too.
“Our end will be near if we enter the EU with the Annan plan”, the 80 year old Denktash said, grim-faced.
Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan who backs the U N plan as vital for Turkey’s EU aspirations, pointedly stayed away from the assembly.
US President George W. Bush telephoned Caramanlis Monday to urge full backing by Athens for a “yes” vote, while Washington offered “significant” financial assistance to a reunited island.
Based on Switzerland’s canton system, the plan provides exhaustive detail of complex power-sharing arrangements and multiple transition periods, lasting up to nearly 20 years, and even provides a new flag and national anthem.
Failure to adopt the plan would effectively leave the minority Turkish Cypriots out of the EU’s major expansion eastward to increase its membership from 15 countries to 25, and maintain a source of tension between traditional rivals Greece and Turkey.
Turkey, on its own troubled course to EU membership, abruptly swung its support behind the UN plan last year after defying UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus for 30 years.
Caramanlis said Greece would continue to support Turkey’s bid to join the EU and push for an internationally backed solution in Cyprus.
Greek objections to the plan cross political-party lines and center on its failure to provide for the return of many Greek Cypriots made refugees by the 1974 invasion nor the complete withdrawal Turkish troops from the island’s north.
The opposition socialist party, voted out of power in general elections last month, supports the UN plan but faces strong dissent within its ranks.
The Communist party leader Aleca papariga rejected the Plan saying it envisaged the establishment of a protectorate worse than Kosovo”.
Greece’s Orthodox Church leader, Archbishop Christodoulos, in an Easter speech delivered outside parliament, said: “The powerful of this world always dictate to us what we must and must not do. At this time, I feel the
