UN Cyprus plan ‘can be revised’
ANKARA (AP) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Christmas Eve that a rejected United Nations plan to reunite Cyprus could be revised, and called for new efforts to solve the dispute. Erdogan said that although UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan – which was rejected by the Greek Cypriots and backed by the Turkish Cypriots in an April 24 referendum – was not currently on the table, it could be revised. «Okay then, we revise the Annan plan again,» he said. «It can come before us again if both sides agree.» He also indicated a new referendum could be held. «Both sides (can) revise it and agree on it, then submit it to the people for approval,» Erdogan said. «I think all of us should move hand in hand. I believe that speeding up the peace process will be very beneficial.» [While compelled by the European Union to sign a customs treaty with Cyprus by October 3 – when Turkey’s accession talks are to start – Ankara has ruled out formally recognizing Nicosia before a peace deal is struck.]
