Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 04-04-12

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] US supports Annan plan

[02] UN goes ahead with Cyprus referenda as scheduled

[01] US supports Annan plan

2145:CYPPRESS:01

US supports Annan plan

Washington, Apr 12 (CNA) -- US supports Annan plan.

Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC April 12, 2004

The United States reiterates its firm support for the Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan presented to the parties on March 31 in Switzerland. That plan was the culmination of talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots as well as Greece and Turkey. It is the only plan, and it is the final plan. There has been speculation among Cypriots that there could be other alternatives to this plan. In our view there are no options other than the Secretary Generals March 31 plan. It is this settlement or no settlement.

The settlement represents a compromise between the parties, in which no party got everything that it sought, but which offered clear gains for both sides. Cypriots now have an historic decision before them: On April 24 they will have the opportunity to support the settlement plan. In our view, the only way to assure the long-term security that Cypriots deserve is through this Settlement plan. This plan would lead to the withdrawal of large numbers of Turkish troops on the island, UN-supervised transfer of territory back to Greek Cypriots, and restitution and/or compensation of property to its former owners. Over 120,000 Greek Cypriots would be able to return to their former homes. The Turkish Cypriots also benefit in clear ways, including by being able to join the European Union on May 1 at the same time as the Greek Cypriots, and by being able to decide the vast majority of issues affecting them by themselves.

[02] UN goes ahead with Cyprus referenda as scheduled

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UN goes ahead with Cyprus referenda as scheduled

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Apr 12 (CNA) -- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will go ahead with the separate referenda on Cyprus on April 24, as scheduled, in which the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities will be asked whether they accept Annan's plan of March 31 for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, a UN spokesperson said today.

The spokeswoman, Marie Okabe, said the UN had been informed by the Cypriot leftwing AKEL party of its position to call for a postponement by the Secretary General of the referenda for a few months in order to provide more time for Cypriots to study the plan in detail and to hold negotiations and fill in the gaps, especially regarding security and guarantee of its implementation.

"We continue to follow this and other developments," she said.

Okabe noted that it had been agreed on the 13th of February, in New York, that the referenda should be held before May 1. The day of the referenda, she added, was set by the SG on March 31 in Switzerland, in consultation with the parties to February 13 agreement.

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