Time will be needed for new political dispensation after Turkish Cypriot voting - Annan

Reacting to reports of the Turkish Cypriot voting, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said it appeared that it might take some time for a new "political dispensation" to be established.

"The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to restate his position, which is that his plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem remains on the table but that he does not propose to take a new initiative without solid reason to believe that the political will necessary for a successful outcome exists," a spokesman for Mr. Annan said in a statement released in New York.

In March, the Secretary-General met in marathon talks with the Greek Cypriot leader, Tassos Papadopoulos, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, in The Hague in a failed bid to gain their approval for his proposals. He had asked that each party come to the talks ready to commit to submit a revised plan for approval at separate, simultaneous referenda on 30 March in order to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Today's statement said Mr. Annan "hopes that the Turkish Cypriot side - and indeed all parties - will soon be in a position to make the necessary commitment so that a reunited Cyprus may accede to the European Union" next May.