LEFKOSA - United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) responded on Saturday to Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos who claimed yesterday that the United Nations (UN) had given money to Greek Cypriot side in return for supporting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan in the referendum in April.
Releasing a statement, UNFICYP Spokesman Brian Kelly said, ''UN agencies have been involved for decades in efforts to promote bi-communal reconciliation and to help prepare the environment for a normalization of the situation in Cyprus.''
Mentioning Papadopoulos as ''Greek Cypriot leader'', Kelly said, ''it is not UN practice to make available copies of correspondence exchanged in the framework of the Secretary-General's good offices. The UN has also noted Mr. Papadopoulos' public-stated view that he does not think the letter to which he referred should be made public.''
''However, on the issue in question, the UN has nothing to hide, and can confirm that, in a letter to Mr. Papadopoulos, Alvaro de Soto informed him on some issues all of which are well-known,'' he said.
Kelly listed these issues as:
''UN agencies have been involved for decades in efforts to promote bi-communal reconciliation and to help prepare the environment for a normalization of the situation in Cyprus. They have long supported, and continue to support civil society organizations and projects which further these goals, and make information available.
Such agencies and UNFICYP have always facilitated bi-communal contacts and meetings on request, regardless of whether those requests came from organizations or people that were for or against the Secretary-General's plan.
The good offices mission made available information to civil society organizations regarding the Secretary-General's plan. It was glad to do so with any persons or organizations, regardless of where they stood on the issues. It would have been derelict in its duty had it failed to do so.''
Papadopoulos said at the Larnaca Airport after his arrival from Estonia that UN had given money to Greek Cypriot side in return for supporting UN Secretary General Annan's plan in the referendum in April, and that Alvaro de Soto, the former special envoy of UN Secretary General Annan to Cyprus, had sent him a letter about the issue.
According to Papadopoulos, de Soto said in his letter that some people were given money prior to the referendum since the UN and others were in favor of further strengthening of Annan's plan.
(UK) 16.10.2004