THE Greek Cypriot press yesterday focused on the lack of agreement in Switzerland, stressing that it was now up to the people to decide.
Politis led with United Nations Secretary-general Kofi Annan’s warning that it was either this solution or nothing.
The daily kept an objective stance and reported that the big compromise for an agreed solution had not been achieved on the eleventh our of talks in Switzerland.
Annan advised the two sides to seize the chance and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, and stressed that efforts had been made to satisfy all the concerns in the final text.
On the other hand, it was all doom and gloom for Simerini.
Under the banner headline, “they took everything and left” the daily focused on Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s triumphant mood and the dissatisfaction expressed by the Greek and Greek Cypriot sides.
House president Demetris Christofias called on the people to stay calm and said the political leadership would study the final draft of the plan objectively upon their return.
Alithia led with the fact that there was no agreement on the final text of the UN plan, adding that the political leadership and the people would now be asked to make their decisions concerning the future.
The daily also commented on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash’s insistence that he would reject the plan if Turkish Cypriot demands were not met. Denktash claimed a game was played to mislead the Turkish side and likened EU Enlargement Commissioner Gunther Verheugen to a Nazi officer.
The final word is with the people, Phileleftheros reported, adding, however, that President Tassos Papadopoulos was “not at all satisfied” with the outcome of the talks.
The dissatisfaction stems from the non-inclusion of provisions concerning the settlers, the transitional period, derogations, and others, the daily said. The President’s first reaction, through the government spokesman, was that the Greek Cypriot side was not satisfied by the changes in the plan.
The same goes for Greece, while Erdogan expressed satisfaction noting that he would support the plan in the upcoming referenda.
Erdogan entered the pressroom in triumphant mood, stressing that the final text reflected Turkey’s comprehensive victory, Machi said yesterday.
The daily reported that Papadopoulos would deliver an important speech to the Greek Cypriot people as soon as he arrived last night.
AKEL mouthpiece Haravghi reported that the people would have the final say following the disagreement between the two sides, with the UN acting as referee.
The final text found a triumphant Turkish side and disappointed Greek and Greek Cypriot sides.
