CYPRUS/COPENHAGEN: Thousands of Turkish Cypriot demonstrators called yesterday for the resignation of their leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, after he refused to agree to the UN plan for the reunification of Cyprus so that the entire island, divided since 1974, could enter the EU.
Carrying placards and the blue EU flag, the protesters converged on the central square of the northern sector of the world's last divided capital.
Mr Denktash's refusal to accept the UN proposal meant the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot majority Republic will enter with the other nine candidates in 2004. While only 50 per cent of each community approve of the terms of the reunification plan, presented last month by the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, a firm majority of Turkish Cypriots and 70 per cent of Greek Cypriots favour EU accession. The Annan plan calls for a bizonal, bicommunal federation consisting of two largely autonomous cantons linked by a weak central government.
Although talks on the plan continued throughout the day in Copenhagen, the Cyprus President, Mr Glafkos Clerides, admitted in late afternoon that a last-minute deal was not possible. The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister, Mr Tahsin Ertogruloglu, declared that nothing would be signed.
Before checking into an Ankara hospital on the eve of the summit, the ailing Mr Denktash made his side's position clear. "We have not reached the point of signing a document. We want negotiations," he said. "We want the EU leaders to act with reason. We want them to realise that they are killing the chances of an agreement when they [try to] impose a solution on us."
He said that if the EU wanted to admit a united Cyprus, it must give the two sides a chance to reach an accommodation. But if the EU accepts the Republic, it "must negotiate with us separately about our membership" and extend economic assistance so that the Turkish Cypriots can join along with Turkey.
He concluded his remarks by implying he would never agree to reunification: "I have told all concerned officials that forced marriages never work. The two peoples must not be forced together once again." The EU has given the two communities until the end of February 2003, when Mr Clerides is set to leave office, to achieve a settlement.
Analysts believe prospects are poor. While EU approval of the Republic's admission could give impetus to the talks, it will also strengthen the hand of the Greek Cypriots. This has angered the Turkish side, already disappointed over the EU's failure to offer Ankara an early date to start accession talks.
As he left hospital yesterday, Mr Denktash remarked: "The EU's interest is to delay Turkey and to take Cyprus, to possess Cyprus and to build something like a Christian fortress around Turkey."
