PRESIDENT Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday he trusted the people’s judgement in deciding how to vote in the referendum on the Annan plan.
Papadopoulos was commenting on statements made by US special envoy Thomas Weston on Sunday, that whichever said ‘no’ in the referenda would pay a heavy price.
“When the people know the facts correctly, they will decide, based on their own judgement, and not what others tell them,” Papadopoulos said.
He added: “I have more trust in the judgement and the feeling of our people.”
Referring to international mediators, he said: “It is their right to say things and it is up to them to judge if these kinds of comments help or produce the opposite results,” the President said.
Weston later sought to play down the warnings, saying his comments had been misconstrued and should not be read as a threat to either Greek or Turkish Cypriot leaders.
“All I said was that this would be a historical decision and that if the decision is not to reach a settlement, it would be a heavy responsibility for the people,” he told a news conference at the Ledra Palace.
The US envoy said he had discussed the prospects for a referendum with the two sides. But he stressed the Cypriot people would be the ones to decide whether or not they wanted a solution. “The agreement of the four parties with the Secretary-general will be finalised and put to referendum. That’s what we agreed in New York. I take the parties at their word.”
“My meetings left me encouraged,” he told reporters. “I’ve found that the process of finalising an agreement and putting it forward for referendum is going forward and going forward well.”
“I have no expectations of a deadlock,” he added.
But speaking earlier to reporters after his return from the sixth meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Papadopoulos said the Turkish Cypriot side had simply responded to the Greek Cypriot side’s latest submissions with a repetition of his well-known positions.
“Yes, he gave an answer; he explained his vision again and returned to the same positions he always held,” Papadopoulos said.
Denktash, meanwhile said the Greek Cypriots had rejected all his proposals out of hand.
“The answer which they have given us is that our proposals are all unacceptable, saying they are outside the Annan plan,” Denktash said.
One of his proposals called for the renegotiation of Cyprus’ EU membership and its re-ratification by EU members.
However, Papadopoulos said yesterday’s session had not been spent discussing Denktash’s vision.
“No; we also discussed the other issues in the first group, and tabled our positions concerning the status we want for the territory that will be returned,” Papadopoulos said.
“We are proceeding chapter by chapter, giving our positions, and submitting special papers on special issues, with more arguments and referrals to Mr Annan’s text,” Papadopoulos said.
The Greek Cypriot side is understood to want territory earmarked for return to be placed under UN control until it actually is handed over.
Papadopoulos said he expected Denktash’s positions on the issue to be tabled tomorrow.
But the Turkish Cypriot leader gave his response as soon as he got back to the north.
“This is unacceptable,” he said.
“If we do this we should ask our people to hand it over, something which cannot be done.
“We are not ready for this,” Denktash said.
Papadopoulos said the two sides were still exchanging views of possible changes to the Presidential Council. The Greek Cypriot side is understood to want the restructuring of the council to include six Greek Cypriots and four Turkish Cypriots, instead of four Greek Cypriots and two Turkish Cypriots.
“We are not trying to take away rights from the Turks with this proposal.”
He explained that a functional presidential council would be good for both sides, making Cyprus’ presence in all EU bodies more effective.
“So why should it be viewed that we are gaining an advantage?” Papadopoulos said.
He added: “Both sides gain an advantage.”
