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No change' in Russian policy - government

By ANDREAS HADJIPAPAS

THE government says there is no change in Russia’s policy on Cyprus and is not concerned about statements made this week by President Vladimir Putin expressing support for the Annan plan and calling for an end to the isolation of Turkish Cypriots.

Foreign minister George Iacovou said there was no cause to worry since Russia’s stand was "based on principles ". He confirmed that President Papadopoulos is to visit Moscow soon, at the invitation of the Russian President.

Putin made his remarks during Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Moscow and were received with delight in the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot media as marking a shift in Russia’s traditional pro-Greek stand .

The Russian leader, speaking at an open meeting attended by reporters, said Russia supported the efforts of the U N Secretary-General to settle the Cyprus problem, including his plan to develop economic relations with northern Cyprus, to remove the blockade that has been in force there for many years. He mentioned that he had discussed the Cyprus issue with Kofi Annan during a telephone conversation earlier in the day.

Not fair

"We do not think that the economic isolation of northern Cypriots is fair," Putin was quoted as saying. According to some Russian media reports, Putin stressed that ending the economic isolation should be part of an overall Cyprus settlement that would meet the interests of all Cypriots, north and south.

Last April Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution put forward by the United States and Britain to encourage Greek and Turkish Cypriots to adopt the U N Plan to reunify the island in the April 24 referendum.

Putin said Russia’s decision then was based on the principle that adopting such a document on the eve of the referendum might be interpreted by some critics as exerting pressure before the poll or trying to influence the outcome.

"With regard to our future position, we will support the plan of U N Secretary-General Kofi Annan to find a solution to the Cyprus dispute. We will support any resolution that comes out of the implementation of UN Secretrary-General Annan’s plan, and we will cooperate constructively with all sides involved in the process," he said in reply to a question.

Turkish Cypriot newspapers hailed the remarks as signalling a shift in Moscow’s policies and showing Russia’s "strong support" for Turkish Cypriots. Mehmet Ali Talat saw the move as an "important development" and predicted Security Council members would take action to help the Turkish held north even through direct flights. Rauf Denktash deplored the statement because Putin supported the Annan Plan.

President Papadopoulos said he was confident Russia would continue to back Cyprus since its stand was based on principles. Government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said there was no change in Russian policy and noted that, according to Novosty and Itar-Tass, Putin said the isolation of Turkish Cypriots would be settled through a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Erdogan has meanwhile announced that he hopes to meet the UN Secretary-General soon to resume the search for a Cyprus settlement and that he is open to changes in the peace plan rejected last year by Greek Cypriots.

Hamper

The Cyprus issue threatens to hamper Turkey’s hopes of opening entry talks with the European Union on October 3. The EU took a historic decision in December to start accession talks with Turkey in October but the Cyprus government could still veto such negotiations, if Ankara does not sign a protocol extending its customs union with the ten new member states, thus giving de facto recognition to the Cyprus Republic.

Turkey refuses to formally recognise the Cyprus Republic until a settlement is reached and instead only recognises the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north.

Erdogan, speaking in Ankara on his return from Russia, said he wanted to meet Annan at the first opportunity--either in Davos or Indonesia,

"No doubt what will be put forward will not be the current Annan Plan", Anatolian news agency quoted Erdogan as saying.

Reuter notes that Erdogan, anxious to avoid a Greek Cypriot veto against the start of Turkey’s EU entry talks, has pledged "courageous steps" in the coming months to achieve peace and end the island’s partition.

"We speak of a just and lasting plan that will bring peace to both sides. And we say that we support such a plan and will always do so", he added.

The Associated Press quoted Erdogan as saying the UN Plan "could be changed.".

Referendum

"OK then, we revise the Annan Plan again. It can come before us again if both sides agree." He also indicated a new referendum could be held.

"Both sides revise it and agree on it, then submit it to the people for approval. I believe that speeding up the peace process will be very beneficial".

In the April referendum, Greek Cypriots voted by a large majority to reject the Annan Plan which proposed broad autonomy to the two "constituent states" under a loose federal government. Turkish Cypriots, backed by Erdogan’s government, voted overwhelmingly in favour, despite Denktash’s strong opposition.

Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou dismissed Erdogan’s announcements as a mere "public relations exercise" to impress world opinion and said if he really cared for a peace settlement, Erdogan should "proceed with certain other moves" - hinting at a unilateral withdrawal of some of the 35,000 Turkish troops occupying northern Cyprus, and normalising relations with the Cyprus Republic.

Averoff Neophytou, deputy leader of Opposition Disy, said Putin’s remarks should be taken seriously into consideration. He said the National Council should evaluate all recent Ankara’s moves and adopt the necessary strategy, taking into account the situation in Europe and the international field.

Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades said the three "Nos" put forward by the Papadopoulos government could not form a complete political proposal.

He agreed with the three conditions set - no arbitration, no tight deadlines in any peace talks and no new referendum on the Annan Plan without prior agreement by the sides.

But he said the Greek Cypriot side should also set out clearly its positions on changes to the Plan so that there would be a total political proposal.

Rejected

He said Disy would send a memorandum to the President and the National Council.

Socialist Edek’s political bureau, in a statement yesterday, said arbitration should be rejected a priori in any new peace effort. It said the agenda for the talks should include core issues such as the withdrawal of Turkish troops, a creditable mechanism to stop the flow of Turkish settlers, guarantees for implementing the solution, safeguards for the economic unity of the country and respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus.