Referendum Promise Scared Greek Cypriots

Papadopulos is totally against the idea of submitting the Annan Plan to a referendum before negotiating it first. Therefore, upon the initiatives of Turkey, following the recent National Security Board (MGK) meeting, Greek Cypriots panicked and a mission including the members of Greek and Greek Cypriot lobbies under Andy Athens, the President of the Association of Greeks Living Abroad, conducted talks in the White House. The mission met Marc Grossman, the State Department Undersecretary, and Steve Hundley, the Deputy National Security Advisor. State Secretary Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice also joined these meetings for short whiles. However, these contacts were not fruitful for the Greek and Greek Cypriot lobbies.

Three-Stage Method of U.S.
Washington reportedly accepts to make amendments in the Annan Plan, however, she wants the parties to sit at the negotiation table immediately. According to U.S., if this does not happen, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan should intervene to take unilateral decisions to conduct referenda if negotiations turn into a vicious circle. The three-stage method of U.S. can be summarized as follows:
1. Negotiations on the basis of the plan of the UN Secretary General should immediately start.
2. Annan should be able to intervene when negotiations seem to lead to a stalemate.
3. The plan should be submitted to a referendum at a predetermined date.