Turkish parties said they had been ready to sign a deal drawn up by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, but Greeks said there were too many disputed areas for them to endorse it.

After a week of talks at the Swiss Alpine resort of Buergenstock, Annan on March 31 put his best face on the result, saying the east Mediterranean island's future was up to its people.

He said the deal offered a way at last for Greek and Turkish Cypriots to end 30 years of partition as well as join the European Union together May 1. Even if unification does not take place the Greek Cypriot part will join the EU.

Both sides must approve the plan, in separate referendums April 24, for a loose union of two ethnically based zones.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 10, 2004
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