Headlines, Middle East & North Africa

CYPRUS: UN announces failure of unification talks

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

THE HAGUE, Mar 11 2003 (IPS) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced with regret the unsuccessful end of UN-led talks aimed at uniting the divided Cyprus on Tuesday morning at 5 a.m. (0400 GMT) in The Hague.

"Efforts were not successful, we arrived at the end," said Cyprus representative Alvaro de Soto reading a statement by Annan.

According to reports, Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktasch refused to submit the UN plan to unite the Mediterranean island divided since 1974 to voters for a referendum.

The spokesman of the Greek-Cypriots, Tassos Papandopoulos, had earlier stated his opposition in principle to the plan.

Since no agreement was reached to the Cyprus problem, the process, started in 1999, has run its course without a solution.

Annan had hoped to persuade the two leaders to hold referendums on the plan on March 30 so that a united Cyprus could sign a mid-April accession treaty, a prelude to joining the European Union.

A peace deal was also crucial for Turkey’s hopes of joining the European Union as the Greek Cypriot part of the island will join the bloc in May 2004, with or without the Turkish Cypriot side, after signing the accession treaty on April 16

However, the plan continues to remain on the table reassured Annan. Both sides have said they are ready for the continuation of discussions, however, Annan added that without a clear structure and a clear interest in a solution such discussions would make little sense.

Denktasch told reporters the loss of traditional homelands for 100,000 Turkish-Cypriots under the UN plan is an important reason for rejecting the current solution.

Papadopoulos left the meeting before Annan’s announcement.

The discussions behind locked doors in The Hague started on Monday and took more than 16 hours. The parties met only once in a joint meeting with the UN Secretary General.

 
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CYPRUS: UN announces failure of unification talks

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

THE HAGUE, Mar 11 2003 (IPS) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced with regret the unsuccessful end of UN-led talks aimed at uniting the divided Cyprus on Tuesday morning at 5 a.m. (0400 GMT) in The Hague.
(more…)

 
Republish | | Print |

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Headlines, Middle East & North Africa

CYPRUS: UN announces failure of unification talks

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

THE HAGUE, Mar 11 2003 (IPS) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced with regret the unsuccessful end of UN-led talks aimed at uniting the divided Cyprus on Tuesday morning at 5 a.m. (0400 GMT) in The Hague.
(more…)

 
Republish | | Print |

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Headlines, Middle East & North Africa

CYPRUS: UN announces failure of unification talks

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

THE HAGUE, Mar 11 2003 (IPS) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced with regret the unsuccessful end of UN-led talks aimed at uniting the divided Cyprus on Tuesday morning at 5 a.m. (0400 GMT) in The Hague.
(more…)

 
Republish | | Print |

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Headlines, Middle East & North Africa

CYPRUS: UN announces failure of unification talks

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

THE HAGUE, Mar 11 2003 (IPS) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced with regret the unsuccessful end of UN-led talks aimed at uniting the divided Cyprus on Tuesday morning at 5 a.m. (0400 GMT) in The Hague.
(more…)

 
Republish | | Print |

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