Greek and Turkish Cypriots Vote on UN Peace Plan

24/04/2004| IslamWeb

Greek and Turkish Cypriots went to the polls in separate referenda on a UN plan to reunify their island divided for 30 years before it joins the European Union on May 1. A total of 623,801 voters -- 480,165 Greek Cypriots and 143,636 Turkish Cypriots -- are registered to vote Saturday on the plan drawn up by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to try to end one of the world's most intractable disputes. However, people working for early exit polls in the south told AFP that Greek Cypriots appeared likely to vote against the UN plan for a loose confederation. That would deny Turkish Cypriots in the north, who are expected to vote overwhelmingly in favour of the peace blueprint, the right to join the European Union alongside them. Speaking after casting his vote at a polling station outside Nicosia, Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos told his people not to celebrate the referendum result. "Whatever the outcome there should be no celebrations or the day darkened by any violence," Papadopoulos told reporters. "Today is an historic day which will decide the future of our land and I urge Cypriot citizens to vote responsibly and with respect," he said. In the weeks leading up to the vote and flouting huge international pressure to back the peace plan, Papadopoulos had called on Greek Cypriots to vote down the UN blueprint. The referendum campaign in the south has been one of the most acrimonious and tense in recent history with advocates of a "yes" vote claiming to have been victims of intimidation and media bias. The European Union, the United States and the United Nations have all criticised the lack of balance in the way the peace plan has been presented by the government and the media. "The result must be respected by all whatever the result," added Papadopoulos, alluding to fears about an international fallout should they vote "no". There were 1,077 polling stations operating in the Greek Cypriot side with polls opening at 7:00 am (0400 GMT) and set to close at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT), with an hour's break between midday and 1:00 pm (1000 GMT). Voting is obligatory in the south. In the northern third, the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus recognised only by Ankara, voting opened at 8:00 am (0500 GMT) and was set to end at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) in 563 polling stations. Voting got of to a slow start on both sides of the divided capital Nicosia, but most Turkish Cypriots questioned by AFP said they had voted "yes". "We want the status quo to change for the sake of our grandchildren so they can become members of the European Union. I have a grandson in Britain. I hope he will come back if there is a solution," 74-year-old Beyhan Ozsarihan said. In the south, most Greek Cypriots told reporters they were proud to reject what they see as an unfair plan rewarding Turkey's invasion of the island in 1974 in response to a Greek Cypriot coup. "We want a solution, but this plan does not give us our rights and freedom. Think of Kosovo. If there is a 'yes,' that could happen here," said Antonios Antoniou, 41, an accountant who fled his home in the north after the invasion. The results are expected around an hour after polls close. Under the complicated, 9,000-page Annan plan both communities would have separate governments. But there would be a six-strong collegiate presidency of four Greek Cypriots and two Turkish Cypriots, elected for five years. The northern Turkish Cypriot side would be reduced to about 29 percent of the island against 36 percent now. In concession to the poorer Turkish Cypriots, the plan would also limit the ability of Greek Cypriots to settle, invest and buy property in the north. It also allows Turkey and Greece to retain some 6,000 troops on the island until 2011 when they would gradually be reduced to a few hundred on both sides. Ironically veteran nationalist Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash stands shoulder to shoulder with his arch rival Papadopoulos in vehemently opposing the plan. Diplomatically, the Greek and Turkish motherlands have both given their cautious approval to the plan, but Washington and Brussels have lobbied strongly in favour and offered "yes" incentives. **PHOTO CAPTION*** A Greek Cypriot Orthodox priest votes during a referendum in the village of Deftera, near Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, April 24, 2004. (AP)