DUBLIN - Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche said on Saturday that it would be wrong to put pressure on Greek Cypriot side to enable them to say ''yes'' in the simultaneous referenda which would be held in Cyprus on United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan on April 24.
Roche told A.A that they were all concerned about the result which could emerge in the referenda in Cyprus, adding that earlier they did not consider the possibility of a negative result in the referendum, but now everybody was concerned about the possibility that a negative result could come out in the referendums.
Stressing that they did not consider to put pressure on Greek Cypriots, Roche said that according to their experiences in Ireland, pressure generally caused negative impact on people.
Noting that they had initiatives to encourage people instead of pressure, Roche said that he attended the preparatory International Donors' Conference in Brussels on behalf of the European Union (EU) Term President Ireland.
Roche stated that the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen had announced that Cyprus would be donated two billion Euros and also Irish government committed assistance, however if an agreement was not reached in island, this money would not be given to any sides.
He said that the money would be granted for the development of the island and it was an important encouragement, adding that they were very careful not to say anything that would cause a negative reaction.
Roche said that he had met with the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto on Thursday to discuss concerns over Cyprus issue and recalled that he also discussed this issue during his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday.
He said that Turkish government also had concerns about this issue, adding that both Turkish Ambassador in Dublin and Turkish officials had been pressing on him about this issue in recent weeks.
Roche said that in bilateral meetings with EU foreign ministers today, Gul would discuss a way out if one of the sides in Cyprus said ''no'' to the plan in separate referendums to be held in Cyprus.
Roche said that EU had earlier decided that if a negative result emerged in referendums in Cyprus, EU acquis would be valid only in the south of island which would be full member of EU on May 1 and it would be suspended in the north of island besides being in effect. He added that however, a new situation, which EU did not envisaged before, could emerge.
When asked whether Irish government had a decision about solution if the result would be ''yes'' in the north of island and ''no'' in the south of island, Roche said that if such a result emerged, it would be necessary to evaluate this situation, adding that it would be a situation for which EU would have to find a solution and it would be wrong to estimate at the moment what EU would do on that stage.
When recalled that if Greek Cypriots rejected the plan, Turkish government would ask for the suspension of full membership of Greek Cypriot side unilaterally on May 1, and asked whether it was possible to suspend full membership of Greek Cypriot side unilaterally after this stage, Roche said that decisions were taken, adding that he did not think this could be possible.
He said that it would be an extraordinary development and it would mean to revise the decisions which were taken in Copenhagen. He added that actually he did not think such a thing would happen. He said that Turkey had taken a very courageous step about Cyprus issue and Ireland sincerely supported this initiative, but he could certainly say that Cyprus would be full member of EU on May 1.
Noting that he was shocked when Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos suggested that his people say ''no'' in referendum on television, Roche said that now the decision would be taken by peoples of Cyprus, adding that they were still hopeful.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan presented his final plan to the parties at the end of Cyprus negotiations held in Buergenstock, Switzerland on March 31.
This plan will be put to simultaneous referenda in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot side on April 24.
(GC-BRC) 17.04.2004