Annan Plan for Cyprus

Annan Plan for Cyprus. The Annan Plan was a comprehensive United Nations proposal to resolve the long-standing Cyprus dispute by reuniting the island as the United Cyprus Republic. Named for then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the plan aimed to end the division between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It was put to simultaneous referendums in both communities in April 2004, receiving overwhelming support from Turkish Cypriots but being rejected by Greek Cypriots, thus failing to be implemented.

Background and historical context

The plan emerged from decades of conflict following the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which split the island along the Green Line monitored by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Previous diplomatic efforts, including the 1977 and 1979 high-level agreements between Archbishop Makarios III and Rauf Denktaş, had failed to yield a settlement. The ongoing presence of the Turkish Army in the north and the 1983 declaration of independence by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey, solidified the partition. Intense negotiations under UN auspices, particularly during the tenure of Secretary-General Kofi Annan and with involvement from Greece and Turkey, sought a bizonal, bicommunal federation. The push for a solution gained urgency with the impending accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union, creating pressure for a reunified state to join.

Main provisions of the plan

The complex proposal outlined a new United Cyprus Republic as an indissoluble partnership with a common federal government. The constitution provided for a Presidential Council rotating between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot members, and a bicameral legislature with a Senate based on equal representation from each constituent state and a Chamber of Deputies based on proportional representation. Key provisions addressed the sensitive issues of territory, property, and security. Significant territorial adjustments would reduce the area under Turkish Cypriot administration, allowing the return of displaced persons to areas like Morphou. A complicated property restitution and compensation scheme was established, managed by an independent Property Board. The Treaty of Guarantee would remain, allowing for the continued presence of Turkish and Greek troops, albeit at reduced levels, with a timeline for further review.

Referendums and results

On 24 April 2004, separate simultaneous referendums were held in the two communities under the supervision of the United Nations. The campaign was highly polarized, with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and the Republican Turkish Party urging a "yes" vote, while Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos gave a pivotal television address advocating rejection. The final results were starkly divergent: in the north, 64.9% of Turkish Cypriots voted in favor, but in the south, 75.8% of Greek Cypriots voted against. The overall island-wide vote was 67% against the plan. Consequently, the Republic of Cyprus acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004 as a divided island, with the acquis communautaire suspended in the north.

International reaction and support

The international community, including the United Nations, the European Union, and the United States, had strongly backed the plan as a balanced and historic compromise. Following the result, the UN Security Council acknowledged the outcome with regret. The European Commission expressed particular appreciation for the Turkish Cypriot "yes" vote, and the Council of the European Union soon adopted regulations aimed at ending the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community. Key figures like Kofi Annan and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed disappointment, while Turkey welcomed the Turkish Cypriot approval. The disparity in votes led to increased diplomatic and economic engagement with the Turkish Cypriot administration, though not formal recognition.

Reasons for rejection and aftermath

Greek Cypriot rejection was driven by perceptions that the plan disproportionately favored Turkish Cypriots and Turkey. Major objections included the permanency of Turkish military presence, restrictions on the right of return for Greek Cypriot refugees, and the perceived legitimization of the results of the 1974 invasion. The aftermath solidified the status quo of division. The Republic of Cyprus, now an EU member state, gained a stronger diplomatic position. Subsequent negotiation rounds, such as those at Crans-Montana in 2017 under UN envoy Espen Barth Eide, have failed to revive the Annan framework. The plan remains a definitive but failed attempt at reunification, with the buffer zone and issues of sovereignty and guarantees continuing to define the Cyprus problem.

Category:Cyprus dispute Category:United Nations documents Category:2004 referendums Category:2004 in Cyprus