Sir, The Annan plan asks the Greek Cypriot people to entrust their security, human rights and national freedom to Turkey, based on the remote assumption that the deal in Cyprus will bring Turkey closer to Europe and transform Turkey into a co-operative and democratic European partner.

Sir, I watched Tassos Papadopoulos cry on TV the other night. Not a pretty sight and if I didn’t know better, I would have thought that he had a couple over the limit. This is the man I voted for in a moment of unmanly weakness, insanely believing his pre-election promises that he would try solve the Cyprus problem in a practical and impartial way. And what do I get from him in return?

ALITHIA: “The people should not pay for political weaknesses”. DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades is expected to analyse all that happened in Burgenstock at the party’s national conference tomorrow. According to the paper, Anastassiades is expected to also brief party members on the details of what followed after. HARAVGHI: “A creative position”.

LIMASSOL was worst hit by Easter bingers this year with the hospital recording more than 200 cases of indigestion, gastritis and other over-eating related illnesses, but doctors nationwide said figures were way down compared to previous years. The surge in stomach grievances came after the annual meat fest, which followed the 50-day fasting period before Easter.

ATTORNEY-general Solon Nikitas yesterday joined the growing number of high-profile officials to come out emphatically against the Annan plan in the run-up to the April 24 referendum. Nikitas said it was his duty as legal advisor to the Republic to give his opinion on the Annan plan.

STATISTICS released yesterday suggested a growing risk that pensioners could soon outnumber younger, working people, sparking a major crisis in the Social Insurance Department. According to the figures, by 2028, 23.1 per cent of the population will be over 60, in comparison to 15.7 per cent in 1998. It is expected that 17.6 per cent will be over 65 compared to 11 per cent in 1998.

TURKISH Cypriots have handed to the United Nations a long list of names of settlers from mainland Turkey who would be allowed to stay in Cyprus in the event of the island’s reunification. Turkish and Greek Cypriots are preparing for simultaneous referenda on April 24 on a UN peace plan which envisages a reunited Cyprus joining the European Union on May 1.

AFTER some delay, the House of Representatives yesterday passed a bill paving the way for the historic referendum on the future of Cyprus to be executed on April 24. ADIK leader and deputy Dinos Michaelides delayed the bill’s passing, questioning the authority of parliament to pass such a bill, which could lead to the dissolution of the state.

THE youth wings of six pro-solution Turkish Cypriot political parties yesterday issued a stark warning to what the describe as “previously pro-solution” youth wings of Greek Cypriot political parties that they would break off bicommunal activities if they continued their new anti-Annan plan stance.

TENS of thousands of Turkish Cypriots are expected to take to the streets today in a last-ditch attempt to persuade Cypriots on both sides of the Green Line to vote ‘yes’ to the Annan plan in the upcoming referenda on April 24.