‘There will be a referendum’
THE GOVERNMENT yesterday moved to quash local news reports that suggested a settlement agreement might not be put to referenda before the two communities.
“The two leaders have already agreed that an agreement will be put to simultaneous referenda,” government spokesman Stefanos Stefanos told a news briefing.
He said this arrangement had been made known to the UN Secretary-General, and moreover that it was mentioned in a UN resolution.
Online newsletter Offsite reported on Monday that “diplomatic circles in Nicosia and abroad” were hatching plans to avoid holding referenda after a peace deal is reached between the leaders of the two communities.
According to Offsite, the same circles fear that holding referenda would see a repeat of 2004, when politicians and quarters of the media opposed to the Annan Plan mounted a concerted ‘No’ campaign to scupper the agreement. This, the newsletter said, is a lesson learned for foreign diplomats, who now intend to keep the hawks and ‘demagogues’ in Cyprus from poisoning the climate again.
Phileleftheros yesterday took up the story, essentially endorsing this “information.” It noted that the idea was “most likely” the brainchild of British diplomats. Next, the paper noted that the British have denied knowledge of any such plan – without mentioning where this denial came from.
Phileleftheros said also that the idea to bypass the referenda was “not to the knowledge of the negotiating parties.”
Citing its own sources, the paper said that the foreign diplomats were toying with the idea of putting an agreement to the parliaments of the respective communities, instead of straight to the people. This would soften acceptance of an agreement as it would not completely ignore the people, since MPs are chosen by the electorate. A nod from parliament would help seal the deal, the paper conjectured.
“Where would the Cyprus problem be without rumours?” remarked a source from a foreign embassy, who requested anonymity.
Politicians meanwhile dismissed outright the notion of scrapping the referenda. DIKO leader Marios Garoyian likened such an action to putting the cart before the horse.
“First let’s see where the negotiations will lead… after, assuming there is agreement between the two communities, it would be inconceivable for citizens not to be able to take a stand on the agreement for a comprehensive solution.”
DISY boss Nicos Anastassiades stressed that putting an agreement to the popular vote was an imperative, otherwise people would feel that they were having a solution “imposed” on them.
Moreover, he said, the people should be given a voice, since a solution and reunification would directly impact their lives.
The reports about these behind-the-scene scenarios directly contradict the messages coming from politicians in recent weeks. In late June, in an interview with Turkish newspaper Zaman, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza specifically mentioned that there had to be a referendum after a Cyprus agreement was signed.
“Forcing them [the Cypriots] to do it simply is not going to be workable because there will be referenda again. And eventually the parties will either vote for or against, depending on how comfortable they are with the settlement,” Bryza told Zaman.
And in interview with Politis about two weeks ago, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat sounded confident that the majority of Turkish Cypriots would vote ‘yes’ in a referendum – the implication of his remark being that a referendum is a given.
A reference to the two communities’ commitment to hold referenda is contained in the leaders’ joint statement of July 25, 2008 which noted:
“The aim of the full-fledged negotiations is to find a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem, which will safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interests of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The agreed solution will be put to separate simultaneous referenda.”
UNFICYP spokesman Jose Luis Diaz said he was unaware of any discussions, in any circles, on postponing the referenda.
“This is the first I ever heard of it… from the media reports,” Diaz told the Mail.
In any case, he added, the two leaders have long been negotiating on the understanding that an agreement will be put to referenda.
Asked about the alleged involvement of British diplomats, as claimed by Phileleftheros, a spokesman for the British High Commission had this comment:
“This settlement process belongs entirely to the Cypriots. The role of the international community is to support the two leaders in their search for a solution. It is not seeking to make suggestions on the process, on timetables or on the content of a settlement.
“Britain has not been involved in, and is not aware of, any discussions concerning the referendum.”
