ALITHIA: “Woe unto those that shall vote ‘no’”. US State Department Special Envoy Thomas Weston was brimming with confidence on his arrival on Sunday that “the people of Cyprus will assume their historic responsibilities in voting ‘yes’ for the settlement, thereby achieving a settlement before Cyprus enters the EU.” Otherwise, the side that says ‘no’ will bear an incredibly heavy burden.
HARAVGHI: “The Church will give its views on Annan plan in writing.” Paphos Bishop Chrysostomos is preparing a written statement addressed to the government on the views of the Church on the Annan plan, the paper reports. Chrysostomos said the public should be made aware of the view the Church has on the plan, adding that putting the decision on the people with referenda was wrong.
SIMERINI: “Tassos wants security zone”. President Tassos Papadopoulos is expected to ask for a “third security zone” between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot constituent states in today’s talks, the paper reports. Papadopoulos’ proposal is one of the amendments sought in the Annan plan. The president will suggest that areas to be returned to the Greek side on a three-year time-frame be placed under UN and not Turkish Cypriot control.
THARROS: “Annan bugged from Cyprus”. A telecommunications expert has told the paper it was more likely that spying on UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan was carried out from the British bases in Cyprus than from the UK. The paper claims the expert told them that the SBA’s role was to spy on different countries.
POLITIS: “Denktash: ‘Yes, I was dragged to the talks’”. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has admitted that he was dragged to the negotiating table and at the same time did not rule out the possibility that he would abandon the course he was forced to follow. “The Annan plan could not be accepted as a basis for negotiations because it was imposed to us,” he said. Denktash said he only accepted UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan’s invitation to New York after making sure that Turkey would back him in the points he would not back down from.
PHILELEFTHEROS: “The impact of the Annan plan on agriculture”. The paper raises concern that a solution based on the Annan plan would have a major impact on the agricultural sector. Agriculture Minister Timis Efthymiou said a solution based on the plan would have an impact on the environment and natural resources. He said the quotas awarded to Cyprus from the EU and mentioned in the Agricultural Development Plan for 2004 to 2006 concern only the Greek community.
