Cypriotisch referendum op 21 april allesbeslissend (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The UN special representative for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto admitted that there is "no plan B" if the peace plan is rejected by Cypriots in a referendum.

Speaking during a visit in Brussels on his way to Cyprus, Mr de Soto said he is confident that all Cypriot people will take up "the opportunity and challenges of reunification".

"We do not have a plan B, nor are we thinking about scenarios about what will happen", Alvaro de Soto said, adding that it would be "deeply surprising at the very least if not tragic" if the Cypriot people do not accept the settlement.

A breakthrough in talks aimed at reuniting the island was reached last week in New York, when the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash agreed that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan would be able to finalise the text of the peace plan if there is no deal, before it is put to referendums on 21 April.

Formal talks between the two Cypriot leaders will continue this Thursday in Cyprus' divided capital Nicosia, amid pressure for an agreement to be reached before the island joins the EU on 1 May.

"We are about to launch into what we hope is the end game of this process", Mr de Soto said.

Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen, who held a meeting with Mr de Soto earlier today (Tuesday 17 February), expressed satisfaction about the results of the meeting in New York, saying that "we are closer than ever to finding a solution".

However he warned that there is "work still to be done".

"All of us need to do our homework. The timetable is tight but I believe it can be done", he said.

Mr Verheugen will be in Cyprus tomorrow, Wednesday, in a bid to encourage both sides to agree on outstanding issues as quickly as possible.

Improved EU-Turkey relations helpful

Mr Verheugen said, "the fact that we have considerably improved our relations with Turkey was very helpful to get the breakthrough".

He also added that there is no indication that the governments of the EU Member States have changed their position on Turkey's membership prospects, when he was questioned about the idea strongly pushed by the German opposition Christian Democrats to have a special relationship with the country instead of EU membership.

EU leaders will decide at the end of this year whether Turkey meets the political criteria for EU membership.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops occupied the Northern part of the island in response to a coup from Greece.