The UN will put its revised plan to reunify Cyprus to separate referendums on the Mediterranean island next month, UN chief Kofi Annan announced in Switzerland on Wednesday after the rival communities failed to hammer out a deal.
"The choice is between this settlement and no settlement," he said after marathon talks with leaders of Cyprus' Greek and Turkish communities as well as the Greek and Turkish prime ministers to settle the 30-year crisis.
The talks were aimed at reaching a deal on a revised blueprint drawn up by Annan aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island before it is due to join the EU on May 1.
"If the referendum is approved, Cyprus will be reunified in time to accede to the EU," the UN secretary-general said.
Annan had given the delegations until midnight Wednesday to support his proposals, or to see them put to a vote across the divided island without their backing.
But the island's rival communities failed to reach an agreement between themselves in the week-long negotiations at a secluded hotel complex in the snow-covered Swiss Alpine resort of Buergenstock.
"Unfortunately it proved impossible to reach an agreed solution," Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said late Wednesday. "It is now up to the people of Cyprus and its political leadership to make a final decision."
Annan appealed to the two communities to vote "yes" in the referendum to be held April 24.
"There have been too many missed opportunities in the past. For the sake of all of you and your people, I urge you not to make the same mistake again," Annan warned.
But Annan said his plan, which establishes a loose federation with Greek and Turkish Cypriot areas and a central government, "offers the best chance for peace, prosperity and stability that is ever likely to be on offer."
"We have tried to accommodate the express concerns of both sides to create a win-win situation," he said. "I believe we have succeeded."
ACTION PLAN: Taiwan would expand procurement from the US and encourage more companies to invest in the US to deepen bilateral cooperation, Lai said The government would not impose reciprocal tariffs in retaliation against US levies, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, as he announced five strategies to address the issue, including pledging to increase Taiwanese companies’ investments in the US. Lai has in the past few days met with administrative and national security officials, as well as representatives from various industries, to explore countermeasures after US President Donald Trump on Wednesday last week announced a 32 percent duty on Taiwanese imports. In a video released yesterday evening, Lai said that Taiwan would not retaliate against the US with higher tariffs and Taiwanese companies’ commitments to
‘SPECIAL CHANNEL’: Taipei’s most important tasks are to stabilize industries affected by Trump’s trade tariffs and keep negotiations with Washington open, a source said National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) arrived in the US for talks with US President Donald Trump’s administration, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday. Wu was leading a delegation for a meeting known as the “special channel,” the Financial Times reported earlier. It marked Trump’s first use of the channel since returning to the White House on Jan. 20. Citing a source familiar with the matter, the Financial Times reported that Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) was also a part of the delegation. The visit came days after China concluded war games around Taiwan and amid Trump’s
CHIP EXCEPTION: An official said that an exception for Taiwanese semiconductors would have a limited effect, as most are packaged in third nations before being sold The Executive Yuan yesterday decried US President Donald Trump’s 32 percent tariff on Taiwanese goods announced hours earlier as “unfair,” saying it would lodge a representation with Washington. The Cabinet in a statement described the pledged US tariffs, expected to take effect on Wednesday next week, as “deeply unreasonable” and “highly regrettable.” Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said that the government would “lodge a solemn representation” with the US Trade Representative and continue negotiating with Washington to “ensure the interests of our nation and industries.” Trump at a news conference in Washington on Wednesday announced a 10 percent baseline tariff on most goods
HELPING HAND: The steering committee of the National Stabilization Fund is expected to hold a meeting to discuss how and when to utilize the fund to help buffer the sell-off The TAIEX plunged 2,065.87 points, or 9.7 percent, to close at 19,232.35 yesterday, the highest single-day percentage loss on record, as investors braced for US President Donald Trump’s tariffs after an extended holiday weekend. Amid the pessimistic atmosphere, 945 listed companies led by large-cap stocks — including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) and Largan Precision Co (大立光) — fell by the daily maximum of 10 percent at the close, Taiwan Stock Exchange data showed. The number of listed companies ending limit-down set a new record, the exchange said. The TAIEX plunged by daily maxiumu in just
RSS