Annan presents revised Cyprus plan

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan unveiled the plan to the two Cypriot sides and their "motherlands" Greece and Turkey on Monday hoping to unite the island after 30 years.

But the tough negotiation will be in the detail of the 9,000 page document, which Annan wants an agreement on by Wednesday. Following are some of the key points the revised plan:

– Turkey, Greece and Britain will maintain their role as guarantor powers of its independence.
– The proposals will strengthen the ethnic character of the two constituent states which will form Cyprus by imposing additional limitations on settlement of one ethnic group in a region controlled by the other ethnic group.
– The plan keeps in place an offer from former colonial power Britain to give up half the 98 square miles (254 sq km) it uses for military bases on the island.
– Turkish Cypriots would reduce their present territory by around five percent to a little over 29 percent of Cyprus.
– Cyprus would be governed by a nine-member presidential council of six Greeks and three Turks. Earlier UN proposals had specified a six member council of four Greeks and two Turks.

TRANSITION WRANGLES

But mediators still appear to be in a bind on how to accommodate any eventual plan with European Union laws on freedom of movement and settlement.

Under the initial drafts, the United Nations had suggested that transition periods, or "derogations", be valid only until Turkey joins the European Union.

But fearing they may be swamped by their richer neighbours, the Turkish side has sought more assurances that permanent settlement restrictions be written into the plan.

The United Nations and the European Union are trying to work out a formula to meet Turkish demands that restrictions on settlement in the plan should be legally binding. One option suggested is a clause stating Greek Cypriots’ right to freely acquire property in northern Cyprus be allowed only when the Turkish Cypriots’ per capita income reaches an average 90 percent of their southern neighbours.

At present it is around 33 percent, according to Greek Cypriot estimates. But the Greek Cypriot side sees the formula an attempt to include permanent restrictions by stealth and a potential infringement of their human rights.