The United States is disappointed that a majority of Greek Cypriots rejected the United Nations settlement plan on April 24, but commends the large majority of Turkish Cypriots who voted to approve the plan, said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.

Boucher also praised the Turkish and Greek governments for supporting the U.N. plan.

Cyprus will become a member of the European Union on May 1, but due to the Greek Cypriot rejection of the U.N. plan, the legal principles and regulations of the EU are suspended in the northern Turkish part of Cyprus.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release April 24, 2004
2004/443

Statement By Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Cyprus Referenda

Culminating years of UN sponsored negotiations, which the U.S. strongly supported, Greek and Turkish Cypriots voted in parallel referenda on a comprehensive UN plan to end the tragic division of their island. We commend Secretary General Annan, Special UN Advisor on Cyprus Alvaro De Soto, and their UN team for their outstanding work. We also welcome the support that the Turkish and Greek governments gave to the UN plan.

We commend all who voted to approve the plan -- particularly a large majority of Turkish Cypriots -- for their courage and their vote for peace and reconciliation. We are disappointed that a majority of Greek Cypriots voted against the settlement plan. Failure of the referenda in the Greek Cypriot community is a setback to the hopes of those on the island who voted for the settlement and to the international community. We look forward to the Secretary General's report to the UN Security Council on his Good Offices Mission.