“Today, on the invitation of the parties in Cyprus in accordance with the agreement of 13 February 2004, I have used my discretion to finalize the text to be submitted to referenda on the basis of my plan, in order to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus Problem before 1 May 2004.”

In finalizing this document, I have been in close consultation with the two parties in Cyprus, and with Greece and Turkey who have lent their collaboration to the concentrated effort that has just been completed. The outcome of these efforts is the fruit of negotiations under my auspices in which each side represented itself, and no-one else, as the political equal of the other.

The text finalized today represents the best chance ever for Cyprus to be reunited.”

“The revised plan has a property scheme that is simpler, fairer and more certain. It has a more workable system of government. It has better safeguards for the constituent states. It has transitional arrangements that I am confident can and will work. And it has been improved from the financial and economic point of view.

The process of negotiation is not a football match. It is not question of keeping score, of goals and own goals, of winners and losers. Rather, we have tried to accommodate the expressed concerns of both sides, so as to create a win-win situation. I believe that we have succeeded.

This plan is inevitably a compromise. It does not satisfy everyone’s demands. But I believe it meets the core interests, and addresses the key concerns, of people on both sides.

Let us be clear. The choice is not between this settlement plan and some other magical, mythical solution. In reality, the choice is between this settlement and no settlement.

If the settlement is approved in the referenda next month, Cyprus would reunify, in time to accede to the European Union. After only a short interval, freedom of movement would prevail, without border-like checkpoints. A new state of affairs would emerge, far better designed than the one of 1960 to manage relations between the two communities. A substantial number of Greek Cypriots would be able to return to the homes they left behind thirty years ago, and to do so under Greek Cypriot administration. Others would receive full and effective compensation. Cypriots from both sides could return to their homes in the area administered by the other Constituent State.

This plan is fair. It is designed to work. And I believe it provides Cypriots with a secure framework for a common future. There have been too many missed opportunities in the past. For the sake of all of you, I urge you not to make the same mistake again.”

“The parties committed themselves, in a first phase, to seek to agree on changes and to complete the plan in all respects by 22 March 2004, within the framework of the Secretary-General’s Mission of Good-Offices, so as to produce a finalized text.

The parties further agreed that, in the absence of such agreement, the Secretary-General would convene a meeting of the two sides --with the participation of Greece and Turkey in order to lend their collaboration-- in a concentrated effort to agree on a finalized text by 29 March.

As a final resort, in the event of a continuing and persistent deadlock, the parties invited the Secretary-General to use his discretion to finalize the text to be submitted to referenda on the basis of his plan.

The process agreed on 13 February was based on the conditions laid down by the Secretary-General in this report to this Council on 1 April 2003 to resume his good offices effort. That approach received the support of the Council in resolution 1475. And that process has now resulted in a final text to go to referendum on 24 April 2004, the text presented by the Secretary-General in Bürgenstock on 31 March 2004.

On 29 March, the Secretary-General presented a fully revised text for consideration by the parties. In this revised text, the Secretary-General sought to address the key concerns that had been expressed by the two sides in the negotiations, while maintaining the overall balance of the plan.

While not precluding the possibility that the parties might yet reach agreement, the process, from this point onwards, moved to the third phase of the effort envisaged in the 13 February agreement, in which the text would be finalized by the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General wished to do so in the closest collaboration with al concerned --hence the consultations with the parties over the next 48 hours in the run-up to the presentation of a final text on 31 March.

As is obvious, achieving a Cyprus settlement is a complex task-legally and politically. But there are certain points that should not be lost sight of.

First, the process has been conducted in full conformity with the mandate provided to the Secretary-General by this Council. The product of the work is a bi-communal, bi-zonal, federal system, a state of Cyprus with a single international legal personality, sovereignty, and citizenship. It it based on the principle of political equality between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Second, the plan is based on respect for international law and individual human rights… Third, the long-term objective of the plan is the demilitarization of Cyprus.

The plan is inevitably a compromise. It does not meet all the demands of each side. But the Secretary-General believes it is a fair and balanced plan.”

“The Secretary-General is disappointed to learn that Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos has now called for rejection of the plan.”

“In resolution 1475 (2003) of 14 April 2003, the Security Council gave its full support to my “carefully balanced plan” as a “unique basis for further negotiations”, and called on all concerned to negotiate within the framework of my good offices, using the plan to reach a comprehensive as set forth in my report.

Following communications ad consultations that led me to believe that a new effort might be warranted, on 4 February 2004, I wrote to Tassos Papadopoulos, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, inviting them to New York on 10 February to resume negotiations. In that letter I reiterated the terms in my report for a resumption of negotiations and made a number of procedural suggestions to facilitate negotiation and finalization. Both leaders accepted this invitation.

As a final resort, in the event of a continuing and persistent deadlock, the parties invited me to use my discretion to finalize the text to be submitted to separate and simultaneous referenda on the basis of the plan.

…due to differing views as to the appropriate format for direct meetings, it did not prove possible to have face-to-face meetings. The United Nations therefore sought, as it had in Cyprus in the week before Bürgenstock, to build bridges though consultations with all parties, in which it explored compromise suggestions and sought to ascertain the priorities of the parties and where they might be prepared to show flexibility to achieve them. Despite these effort, there was little give and take. I joined the process on 28 March and submitted an overall bridging proposal on 29 March. On that day, the Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey also joined the effort. Deadlock persisted, however, on key issues, as became apparent during consultations in the subsequent 48 hours. At that juncture, there was no reason to believe that further negotiations then or in the months to come would have produced a better result or different outcome.

When he succeeded Glafcos Clerides as the Greek Cypriot leader, Mr. Papadopoulos indicated that he would not reopen issues already agreed upon.

The “Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem”, which was drawn up taking full consideration of relevant United Nations resolutions and treaties, as stated in Security Council resolutions 1250 (1999) and 1475 (2003), provides for a new state of affairs that is in full accordance with the Council’s vision of a settlement.”

These carefully balanced provisions are designed to address the worst fears of each side described in my report to the Security Council of 1 April 2003 (S/2003/398, paras. 74-77).”

The plan is complex and delicately balanced. Inevitably, as in any negotiation, it is a compromise.

Even though finalized by me at the invitation of the parties, the Plan’s core concepts and key trade-offs, as well as the bulk of the many texts included, are largely the work of Cypriots. The plan is the only available and foreseeable route to the reunification of Cyprus.”

“A victory for the “Noes” in either part of Cyprus, or a postponement of the referendum, will mean that only the Greek Cypriots join the EU on 1 May.

During the visit of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Rapporteur Matyas Eörsi (Hungary, LDR) to Cyprus from 11 to 15 January, all major Greek Cypriot political parties expressed their support for the Annan Plan. They are now campaigning either against it or for postponement of the referenda. This is extremely disappointing.

The Annan Plan is now the only opportunity the Cypriots have to see their island reunited within the European Union, and the referenda on 24 April are the best moment for it.

A “No” vote, or postponement of the referenda, would only deepen and perpetuate the division of Cyprus. This would also be a major blow to the authority of the UN and a bad omen for its involvement in settling international crises.

Those seeking to obstruct the settlement will bear grave political responsibility for this failure and should not be allowed to take advantage of it.

The international community and the European Union in particular, should not betray the hopes of those Cypriots who are in favour of the settlement, nor make them pay the price of failure.”

“The European Parliament,

Points out that the final settlement plan has been negotiated between the two sides on the island of Cyprus with the involvement of Greece and Turkey and has been finalized under the authority of the UN Security Council by the UNSG Kofi Annan;

Expresses its support, and welcomes the initiative of the United Nations Secretary General, who on 31 March handed over to the two parties the final version of his plan on the reunification of Cyprus, which will be put to two separate referenda on the island on 24 April, as agreed by all parties in New York on 13 February 2004, so that the reunited island can join the European Union on 1 May.

Shares the Commission’s view that it is not a question of making a choice between the Annan Plan and another plan, but of choosing between this plan and no alternative for a long period of time;

Calls on the citizens of Cyprus to be fully responsible, consistent and committed to their status as EU citizens, and to seize this historic opportunity to reunify their country in a peaceful way.”

“Parts of the plan were put together by the United Nations. But all of its key concepts emerged out of four years of negotiation among your leaders. And most of its 9,000 pages were drafted by hundreds of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Their extraordinary efforts produced one of the most comprehensive peace plans in the history of the United Nations.

..it is a compromise, as is inevitable in any negotiation. It is also the only foreseeable route to the reunification of Cyprus. There is no other plan out there. There is no magic way of accommodating the maximum demands of one side while at the same time accommodating the maximum demands of the other. This is it.

…The plan envisages one independent and sovereign state, the United Cyprus Republic. That State is based on the parameters agreed between the parties since the 1970s --a bi-communal, bi-zonal federal structure, based on the political equality of the two communities. The plan prohibits partition or secession, domination by one side, or union with any other country. The plan ends the status quo. It ends the division of the country. It would allow a reunited Cyprus to speak with one voice internationally, particularly in the European Union. The plan fully respects individual human rights including the rights of those of you who were forced to leave your homes.

We have worked closely with the European Union, the World Bank ad the IMF to make a number of changes, to ensure that the plan is economically and financially sound.

We are determined that neither the events of 1963, nor those of 1974, will ever be repeated.

The vision of the plan is simple: reunification and reconciliation, in safety and security, in the European Union.”

“…Tassos Papadopoulos’ Government of the Republic of Cyprus has surprised everybody by pursuing a rejectionist strategy, I believe for two reasons that this is extremely regrettable:

First; in 1999, at the request of the Greek Cypriot Government, we had said that the resolution of the Cypriot conflict was not a prerequisite for Cyprus’ accession to the EU. We did this on the understanding that the Greek Cypriot leadership would do nothing to bring down a proposed agreement and that they would do all that was possible to bring about a solution. I call on Mr. Papadopoulos to live up to his commitments.

Second; the Government of the Republic of Cyprus repeatedly asserted that it was in agreement with the general lines of the Annan Plan. They said that they were willing to act within the lines of the Plan. In Switzerlad, they suddenly rejected that notion. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus now proposes the rejection of the international settlement. I am going to be undiplomatic, I feel cheated by the Greek Cypriot government. For months on end, I have done everything I could in good faith to make it possible for Greek Cypriots to accept this plan. This is a country that will be joining the EU soon. The least we could expect is a fair and balanced information campaign. Never before in the history of the Commission has a member of the European Commission been accused of interference in the internal affairs of a Member State. I call on Papadopoulos to guarantee the freedom of the media.

I regret that the many Greek Cypriot statements have lacked the words, peace, understanding and co-existence. All these terms have been absent.

There would never be a solution which satisfies either side 100 %. No better plan can ever be made.”

“The Annan Plan offers all Cypriots --for the first time-- a concrete, balanced and comprehensive proposal for the settlement of the Cyprus issue. It received the support of the whole international community at the Donors’ Conference in Brussels on 15 April.

The Plan, which will be put to…referendum this coming Saturday, has been prepared over years throughout the patient efforts of the UN and both Cypriot communities.

A rejection of the proposed plan of the Secretary General of the United Nations would deepen the division between the two Communities. Confidence that has been rebuilt --with much difficulty-- over the last decades will be lost, and will be hard to regain.

Furthermore, Europe and the wider international community would not understand the waste of this unique chance. Their good will to support further attempts to find a solution will not return for a number of years”

“The Annan plan offers a hopeful vision of a peaceful and prosperous future for all Cypriots as citizens of a unified state in the form of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation that honors the traditions of its diverse citizens while forging a common future with the European Union. The settlement that the secretary-general finalized on March 31st outlined an equitable compromise in which no party receives everything it seeks, but which satisfies the fundamental requirements of all parties.”

“I hope that the people of Cyprus realize that on such a day they have an historic decision before them, a decision that will allow a reunited Cyprus to find its place in Europe...

If they say ‘no’ then the Greek Cypriot part of Cyprus enters the EU with the Turkish part remaining outside and the plan will be dead and my role will have ended”

“Through their patient and determined efforts, in cooperation with the parties, the Secretary General and his team have created a unique and historic opportunity for a settlement of the Cyprus problem. In his report to the UN Security Council which was released yesterday, Kofi Annan stated clearly that the plan is the only available and foreseeable route to the reunification of Cyprus.

Let me just say that, as President of the European Council over the past few months, I have had discussion on Cyprus with political leaders across Europe. I think it is only right to say that the view of the overwhelming majority is that the proposed settlement would be good for both communities in Cyprus and good for the European Union.”

“The goal of the effort over the last four and a half years has been to bring about reunification so as to enable a reunited Cyprus to join the European Union. That goal has not been achieved. A unique and historic chance to resolve the Cyprus problem has been missed.

The Secretary-General applauds the Turkish Cypriots, who approved the plan notwithstanding the significant sacrifices that it entailed for many of them. He regrets that the Turkish Cypriots will not equally enjoy the benefits of EU membership as of 1 May 2004, but he hopes that ways will be found to ease the plight in which the people find themselves through no fault of their own.

Together with a broad cross-section of the international community, the Secretary-General remains convinced that the settlement plan put to the two sides in today’s referenda represents a fair, viable and carefully balanced compromise -- one that conforms with the long-agreed parameters for a solution, and with the Security Council’s vision for a settlement and meets the minimum requirements of all concerned. ”

“I deeply regret the outcome of the referendum among the Greek Cypriot community in Cyprus, rejecting the Annan Plan. The enlargement of the European Union on 1 May offers a dramatic change of context, and it is regrettable that the referendum did not produce a change of heart, despite the fact that the problem is not what it was thirty years ago. At the same time, I warmly welcome the strong endorsement of the Annan Plan by Turkish Cypriots.”

“The European Commission deeply regrets that the Greek Cypriot community did not approve the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. A unique opportunity to bring about a solution to the long-lasting Cyprus issue has been missed. The European Commission would like to warmly congratulate Turkish Cypriots for their "Yes" vote. This signals a clear desire of the community to resolve the island's problem. The Commission is ready to consider ways of further promoting economic development of the northern part of Cyprus.”

Straw said he was “saddened by the decision of a majority of Greek Cypriot voters to reject the settlement, despite the prospect it offered of reuniting the island, providing long-sought relief for the refugees of 1974, and progressively lifting the weight of militarization – all this within the framework of political stability and economic security which European Union membership provides”. Straw said he was “glad that the Turkish Cypriot community has voted so clearly for the settlement. The result shows what a fundamental change of attitude has taken place within the Turkish Cypriot community in recent years”.

“We are disappointed that a majority of Greek Cypriots voted against the settlement plan. Failure of the referenda in the Greek Cypriot community is a setback to the hopes of those on the island who voted for the settlement and to the international community.”

"The German Government regrets that a "yes" vote was only achieved in the northern part of the island in today's referenda in Cyprus. It is disappointing that the citizens in the south of the island did not seize the great opportunity for reunification which the Annan Plan offered. Unfortunately, a reunited Cyprus will not now be joining the European Union on 1 May."

“Javier Solana said he deeply regretted that Greek Cypriots have missed the opportunity to solve the problem that has been with them for too many years. He also said that the Turkish Cypriots have made in contrast a courageous choice by voting “yes”.”

Secretary General Walter Schwimmer has expressed his regret that the United Nations plan to reunite Cyprus did not receive the necessary support from voters in the south of the island. This is indeed a big disappointment' he said. 'As the Secretary General of a pan-European organization I can only regret that a golden opportunity has been missed. The outcome of the referendum in the northern part of the island has at least achieved the ending of the moral isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. I am confident that the international community will now ensure that they will not suffer unduly from the rejection of the UN Plan, contrary to their wishes' Mr Schwimmer added.

''France notes the results of the referenda in Cyprus which ended in the rejection of the Annan Plan for the island’s reunification by one of the parties. It regrets that this result will not allow the accession of a reunited Cyprus in the EU, something which France always favoured. Cyprus' accession to the EU, on May 1, will not assume its full significance until such time that the two communities are reconciled.''…“Within this context, France hopes that the Commission, in accordance with the conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council of December 2002, proposes that proper measures be taken to promote the economic development of the northern part of the island and bring it closer to the Union.”

“Bangladesh expresses its deep disappointment at the rejection of the UN Plan for the reunification of Cyprus, by one community in Cyprus…Bangladesh believes that those who voted for the UN plan in Cyprus should now be given the opportunity to restore immediately their economic and trade activities internationally without any restriction.”

“Obviously, we were very disappointed. We believe that an important opportunity, a historic opportunity was lost.”

“First I’d refer you to the remarks that Secretary (Powell) made outside…

We think that a Greek Cypriot vote against the settlement means that a unique and historic opportunity was lost. We believe the settlement was fair. It has been accepted by the Turkish Cypriot side. There will not be a better settlement. There is no other deal. There is no better deal available. And we hope that the Greek Cypriots will come to comprehend this in due time.

We have nothing but praise for the courageous Turkish Cypriots who voted for this settlement.... There's not a new negotiation plan, there's not a renegotiation plan. This is the deal...

We do think that there was a lot of manipulation by the Greek Cypriot leaders in the run-up to the election; that the outcome was regrettable but not surprising, given those actions. I think the Europeans as well have made clear -- statements by External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, European Parliamentary President Pat Cox, Enlargement Commissioner Verheugen -- that they have strong concerns in that regard as well.

Question: Do you stick to your intention not to leave them (Turkish Cypriot people) out in the cold?

MR. BOUCHER: Yes.

…

Question: What was the manipulation that you alluded to?

MR. BOUCHER: There were restrictions on the press, decision by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation's board of directors that limited full coverage of foreigners' statements on the U.N. settlement and on Saturday's referendum. A statistical study of pre-referendum media environment indicates anti-settlement advocates, including the president himself, received almost twice as much airtime as pro- settlement advocates. I think we noted that even the European commissioner, the enlargement commissioner was not allowed on the air; struck us as particularly odd.

There were also a lot of reports that the Ministry of Education dismissed children from school early on the 21st and 27th -- and 22nd so that they could go to anti-settlement events. Teachers were instructed to encourage their students to vote no. And students were provided with no banners and t-shirts by their teachers. Some were even bussed to specific locations.

So, given those kind of purposeful policies, we're not surprised that numerous reports of physical intimidation and threats were made by Greek Cypriots campaigning for a no vote, especially a death threat directed at an 18-year-old schoolboy who favoured the settlement. We especially regret that not one Greek Cypriot official spoke out at the time against numerous shameful incidents that took place before the referenda.

“This opportunity should have been used by the Turkish and the Greek. Still, it's a divided island, and we had hoped the division would have stopped. And we have supported the United Nations plan. We have supported Kofi Annan. We have worked upon it.”

“Question: Will the UN play any future role?

Secretary-General: …obviously we are all very disappointed that the reunification efforts did not succeed… I know that we, at the UN, are not the only disappointed group. The EU and other states and Washington – we are all disappointed, and I think many people in the region, because unification had lots to offer to all the Cypriots and the people of the region.

Question: But the UN’s work is done for now?

Secretary-General: For now, we are done.”

“…the inhabitants of Cyprus have expressed in referendums their opinion on the plan of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the unification of the island. The plan has been refused by a large majority of the Greek population of Cyprus.

…the Czech MFA regards the refusal of the Annan plan as a squandered chance, a chance that may not come again in the near future and considers the Annan plan to be an optimum basis for the unification of Cyprus. The plan was coming forward to both parties and in cooperation with the UN Security Council and the EU provided to all participants sufficient guarantees of a peaceful development of the island.

On 1st May 2004, Cyprus will become EU member. The Turkish inhabitants of Cyprus have expressed in the referendum their will for the unification of Cyprus. They should not become hostages of the situation they will face after 1st May resulting from the refusal of the Annan plan in the south part of the island. The Czech MFA believes that the EU and the international community will find a way to help the north part of Cyprus to overcome economic and social consequences of the decades of international isolation.

…The Czech Republic also calls on the Republic of Cyprus and its current representatives to demonstrate the will to achieve a compromise, which is necessary for a peaceful unification of the island."

“We regret the fact that a re-united Cyprus can not be EU member on 1st of May. Both peoples of the island have a certain place in the Union.

We appreciate the initiative of Prime Minister Erdoðan and of the Turkish Government in order to re-unite Cyprus. Now, the EU must evaluate how it can contribute and facilitate the trade in the island and the border crossings between the two parts. On the other hand, we must reconsider the modalities of the economic support for the harmonization of the North with the EU” (unofficial translation)

“The Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner expressed her regret at the negative outcome of the referendum on the Greek side of Cyprus.

The fact that the referendum resulted in a positive vote on the Turkish side of Cyprus should be appropriately honored by the international community," Ferrero-Waldner stated.”

“A unique opportunity to bring about a solution to the long-lasting Cyprus issue has been missed…There is a shadow now over the accession of Cyprus.

…What we will seriously consider now is finding a way to end the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.”

"Nicolaï said furthermore that the EU is to deliberate on the question of „how we are now to deal with Southern Cyprus“. „We cannot pretend as if nothing happened“, stated the VVD Government leader. According to him also the Greek authorities are to blame as a result of the one-sided portrayal of matters, as a result of which those in favor of a reunion did not stand much of a chance in the referendum of Saturday.”

“The European Commission deeply regrets the negative outcome of the referendum among the Greek Cypriot community. A unique opportunity has been missed. The Commission warmly congratulates the Turkish Cypriots for their "Yes" vote…The Annan Plan is null and void now.

Turkish Cypriots must not be punished because of this result. The Regulation to be issued by the Commission will serve this aim.

About trade, I must say that there have never been embargoes against Northern Cyprus. Nevertheless, now we have to end the isolation of the North. The Commission is ready to take various measures for that aim.

Turkish Cypriots have showed a positive will. Therefore, they must not be punished if they are ready to cooperate with us.

We believe that indeed a unique opportunity has been missed. A divided Island is going to be EU member.

The Green Line has become de facto external border of the EU.”

“ …There is no reason to punish the Turkish Cypriots who have voted yes for the EU. The Greek Cypriots that have supported the re-unification have voted against it this time.”

“The Turkish Cypriot community have expressed their clear desire for a future within the EU. The Council is determined to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot Community and to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community. The Council invited the Commission to bring forward comprehensive proposals to this end, with particular emphasis on the economic integration of the island. The Council recommended that the 259 million euro already earmarked for the northern part of Cyprus in the event of a settlement now be used for this purpose.”

“I was hugely disappointed by the 'no' vote in the Republic in Saturday's referendum, and felt greatly let down by the unhelpful approach of the Government and other political parties in the south.

Given Turkish Cypriots overwhelming support for the UN plan, it is essential that the European Union recognizes their endorsement by building a strong relationship with northern Cyprus. With this in mind, I welcome the Commission's proposals for a financial aid package to the north, for easing travel restrictions at the 'Green Line' and for the opening of a Commission office in northern Cyprus.

We must also ensure, however, that all vestiges of the unfair embargo are rapidly removed and it is high time that holidaymakers from EU Member States were allowed to fly directly to Ercan this summer."

“EU Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen has called for opening of a European Commission office in the Turkish part of Cyprus to monitor the flow of community funds for the development of the northern part the island.”

“On 7 April, Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos, the Greek Cypriot leader, in an address to the nation, called on Greek Cypriots to reject the Secretary-General’s plan – indeed, to “send a resounding no” to the Annan Plan.

Now is not the time to go into details about what information was or was not made available to the people during the referendum campaigns, or to elaborate on unfounded concerns generated about job security for public servants in the proposed new structures, or to comment on the issue of access to the media by international figures from the United Nations and the European Union who were ready to explain the plan and the commitments of the international community. However, concerns on these points were directly raised by Mr. De Soto with Mr. Papadopoulos. Members of the Council will be aware that they have also been raised in other fora.

…Since the plan required approval by each side in the referenda, the Foundation Agreement will not enter into force.

…It means that the objective of the Secretary-General’s efforts over the past four and a half years, namely to reunite Cyprus in time for accession to the EU on 1 May 2004, has not been achieved.

The Secretary General remains convinced that the plan submitted represents a fair, viable and carefully balanced compromise - one that meets the minimum requirements of all concerned. The Plan conforms with the long-agreed parameters for a solution and with the Security Council’s vision for a settlement. The Council will recall that, in resolution 1475, the Council gave its full support the Secretary-General’s “carefully balanced plan” as a “unique basis for further negotiations”.

…Contrary to claims made during the campaign, changes were made to meet, to the extent possible, core concerns of both sides, and these changes were within the parameters of the plan.

…In light of the above, the result of the referendum by the Greek Cypriot electorate, one which had been strongly encouraged by Mr. Papadopoulos, raises serious questions.

The Secretary General applauds the Turkish Cypriots, who approved the plan notwithstanding the significant sacrifices that it entailed for many of them.

…The Secretary General regrets that the Turkish Cypriots will not equally enjoy the benefits of the EU membership as of 1 May 2004. He hopes that ways will be found to ease the plight in which the people find themselves through no fault of their own.”

“The House will know that the referenda in the Turkish Cypriot community was carried by a large majority, but that - in the Greek Cypriot community the settlement proposals were opposed by a large majority. Accordingly the Annan Plan which was designed to be self-executing in time for a re-united island to enter the EU on 1 May is null and void…

Over the last few years, Kofi Annan and his team have built on earlier efforts and worked tirelessly to bring about a comprehensive settlement package that meets the key interests of the two sides, and provides a solid foundation for a durable bi-communal, bi-zonal federal solution.

By this decision a majority of Greek Cypriot voters has rejected the settlement, despite the prospect it offered of reuniting the island, providing long-sought relief for the refugees of 1974 and progressively lifting the weight of militarization-all this within the framework of political stability and economic security which European Union membership provides.

I am glad that the Turkish Cypriot community has voted so clearly for the settlement. The result shows what a fundamental change of attitude has taken place within the Turkish Cypriot community in recent years.”

“The vote by the Greek Cypriots to reject my proposals last Saturday was of course a great disappointment…I salute the Turkish Cypriots for their courageous vote in favour of the proposals. We must all do our best to see that they are not penalized for the way the vote went in the other part of the island.”

“ The Security Council shares the UN Secretary General’s disappointment that efforts since 1999 to reunify the island have not succeeded and regrets that an extraordinary historic opportunity to resolve the Cyprus issue has been missed.”

“We’d like to reiterate our strong support for the Secretary General and his statement.

We join the Secretary General in regretting the outcome of the Greek Cypriot referendum on April 24, the fact that… the benefits of a settlement will not be realized, and the fact that a unique and historic opportunity has been missed.

The Secretary General’s plan is a fair, viable, and carefully balanced compromise that conforms with the long-agreed to parameters of a settlement and with the Security Council’s vision for a settlement.”

“The Parliamentary Assembly is profoundly disappointed by the failure, following the massive "no" vote by the Greek Cypriot community, of the international community's efforts to end the division of Cyprus and enable the two Cypriot communities to together join the European Union on 1 May 2004.

The Assembly pays tribute to Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and his colleagues, who have made a tremendous contribution towards achieving a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

The Assembly pays tribute to the Turkish Cypriots, who supported the Annan Plan by an overwhelming majority, thus opting for a future in Europe. The international community, and in particular the Council of Europe and the European Union, cannot ignore or betray the expressed desire of a majority of Turkish Cypriots for greater openness and should take rapid and appropriate steps to encourage it.  The Turkish Cypriots' international isolation must cease.

The Assembly therefore welcomes the support expressed by several European political leaders for financial assistance for the Turkish Cypriots and an easing of the international sanctions against them. The United Nations should also consider whether the resolutions on which the sanctions are based are still justified. The Assembly considers it unfair for the Turkish Cypriot community, which has expressed clear support for a reunited and European Cyprus, to continue to be denied representation in the European political debate. Such continued isolation may help strengthen the positions of those who are opposing a unified Cyprus.