Turkish Cypriots Demonstrate For, Against UN Reunification Plan

The U.N. secretary-general has proposed a Swiss-style federation for Cyprus, which has been divided into Turkish-Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot sectors since 1974. Mr. Annan has invited both sides to The Hague next week to inform him if they will agree to the proposal and hold a referendum March 30.
Mr. Annan is pressing for a deal to ensure that European Union membership benefits will extend to all of Cyprus when it joins the grouping next year. Otherwise, membership will apply only to areas controlled by the island’s internationally-recognized Greek-led government. Mr. Denktash met Thursday with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and other leaders, who say the decision to hold referendums is left to the leaders of Cyprus. Earlier this week, EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen warned Turkey that failure to end the division of Cyprus could undermine the Turkish bid for European Union membership. Turkey has been an EU candidate since 1999, but has not yet started membership talks. The union has indicated such talks may finally start in 2005 if Turkey improves its human rights record and plays a helpful role on Cyprus.