Mediators working on Annan IV

TURKISH Cypriot papers reported yesterday that the UN and the US were working on a fourth version of the Annan plan, taking into account a set of ‘give-and-take’ proposals made by mediators.

Details of the proposals were published earlier this week, and focused on five points, including the alignment of the borders, the return of Greek Cypriots under the Turkish Cypriot constituent state, the Presidential Council, the Supreme Court and the issue of troops.

The possibility of more territory being given back by the Turkish side gained ground yesterday, when Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying Ankara would offer a land-for-peace deal in attempt to break the deadlock.

“The northern Cypriots can compromise some of their 36 per cent,” the International Herald Tribune quoted Erdogan as saying. He did not say how much land would be involved, but aides said the Turkish side would give up more than the one-fifth of territory already decided in the Annan plan.

The plan proposes that the Turkish Cypriot side remain with 28.5 per cent territory, but mediators feel there is room for the Turkish side to give more because they are the ones seeking a ‘straight line’ to divide the two sides.
The international community’s five-point suggestions to make up a fourth version of the plan are designed to make it more palatable to both sides so they can take it to a separate referenda next month.

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