Secretary-general welcomes apparent suppport for CYPRUS plan

The following statement was issued today in Geneva by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has welcomed the fact that a number of political leaders on both sides in Cyprus, as well as in Greece and Turkey, appear to be moving in the direction of encouraging the people to vote to build a common future in Cyprus on the basis of the plan that he finalized on 31 March 2004 at the invitation of the parties.

In this regard, he has received from the guarantors the assurances that were asked of them regarding the holding of the referenda and the ratification of the treaty prior to signature and to entry into force of the settlement.

The opposition of Mr. Rauf Denktash has been known for some time.  The Secretary-General is disappointed to learn that Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos has now called for rejection of the plan.

The Secretary-General fully respects the wishes of the people and will not interfere in their decision.  However, he reiterates that Cypriots have a unique opportunity to reunite their country, and he hopes that they will seize it while it is before them.

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