Brussels, 04/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - With negotiations on Cyprus' reunification making no headway, the Cypriot Ambassador to the European Union has said that "the seven or eight changes to the Annan plan called for by the Greek Cypriots are in the interests of both sides, in the logic of the plan and its philosophy, but the changes called for by the Turkish Cypriots are almost all outside the plan and its philosophy". Negotiations, which re-started two weeks ago under the aegis of the UN, are still as tricky, both sides accusing each other of refusing to compromise. If they reach agreement before 1 May, the island which has been divided for 30 years between the Republic of Cyprus and the self-proclaimed North Cyprus, will enter the European Union reunified.
In an interview granted to Agence Europe on Thursday, Theophilos Theophilou stressed that "the fact that talks are going on strengthens the hope for a positive outcome by 1 May, despite the difficulties and the very tight schedule". However, he refused to make any predictions. The Turkish Cypriots are accusing the Greek side of making no effort because it will be joining the European Union on 1 May whatever happens. However, the Ambassador to the EU said that the Republic of Cyprus "wants more than anybody else a solution without further delay, because the division has very negative consequences for us". He added: "we are determined to negotiate until the very last day to find a viable solution so that Cyprus can join the EU as one State". Ambassador Theophilou stressed the unique opportunity to reach agreement, with the motivation of the island's accession to the EU, and Turkey's interest in terms of its own application.
Mr Theophilou criticised the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, for "returning to his well-known position of two States, two sovereignties, two peoples, with the concept of two nationalities and two religions", which "is counter to the Annan plan of one federation". He also said that Denktash "does not want" any truck with proposals from the Annan plan for a gradual return of Greek Cypriots to the north of the island, and is calling, on the contrary, for "greater restrictions for longer". Furthermore, Rauf Denktash "does not want property returns" and has instead proposed "compensation". The Turkish Cypriot leader has, for his part, roundly accused the Greek Cypriots of not taking discussions seriously. "They are rejecting our amendments, running away from negotiations, not submitting alternatives, in other words, they are not opening the way for negotiations", he said in a press conference, according to AFP. Rauf Denktash said that on the basis of the current version of the text, he would be supporting a no-vote in a referendum. However, according to surveys, the Turkish Cypriots do not seem prepared to go along with their leader's opinion, and are getting ready to vote "yes". In the south, on the other hand, Greek Cypriots are more afraid of the consequences of reunification, especially in terms of cost. Their Ambassador to the EU has said that the Greek Cypriotes "are not afraid of change, but want a solution which is fair in part, at least, it will not be ideal, we give up things, so that people can know that it is viable once and for all, that they will not be faced with the same problem again".
In the European Commission, a waiting game is planned, in the belief that strong statements by both sides are par for the course in negotiations. "We knew it would be a difficult negotiation, and so we are not surprised by what we are hearing", said the spokesperson to the Commissioner in charge of enlargement, who feels that "there is no cause for concern". If there is no agreement by 22 March, Greece and Turkey will have to join in round the negotiating table. Whether negotiations conclude or Kofi Annan has to end the work, the referendum is nonetheless planned in both halves of the island for 21 April. Whatever the results of this double referendum, the whole of Cyprus will enter the European Union on 1 May 2004. But if the island is still divided, the application of the acquis will be suspended for the northern part.
The Ambassador for Cyprus with the European Union assures that his country is a fervent supporter of Turkey's membership to the European Union and welcomes the changes made with the arrival of Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. "It is in our interest to have good and normal relations with our first and largest neighbour, that Turkey does not behave like an aggressor but as a European. It is therefore in our interest to have it in the European Union". Nonetheless, reunification is an absolutely irrefutable condition for Cyprus agreement of discussions with Turkey. Reunification of Cyprus is, moreover, a "necessary condition but not sufficient" since Turkey must also comply with the Copenhagen criteria. Cyprus welcomes the fact that, with the new government in Turkey, "there has been a change, for Cyprus but also at the internal level".