- Title: CYPRUS: POLLS OPEN ON THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS FOR A CRUSIAL REFERENDUM
- Date: 24th April 2004
- Summary: (W3) NICOSIA, CYPRUS (APRIL 24, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV EXTERIOR POLLING STATION BEING OPENED 0.05 2. SV GREEK CYPRIOT PRESIDENT, TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS, GETTING OUT OF CAR 0.13 3. SV PAPADOPOULOS CASTING VOTE (CAMPAIGNING FOR A 'NO') 0.26 4. SV PAPADOPOULOS SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS 0.31 5. MCU (English) GREEK CYPRIOT PRESIDENT, TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS, SAYING "Whatever the result, this is a historic day for the people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. I hope whatever the result, we'll proceed ahead and better days will come for both of us." 0.43 6. SV PAPADOPOULOS GETTING INTO CAR 0.49 7. SV FORMER GREEK CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDIS CASTING VOTE (CAMPAIGNING FOR A 'YES') 1.00 8. SV CLERIDIS WALKING UP TO MICROPHONES 1.06 9. MCU (English) FORMER GREEK CYPRIOT PRESIDENT, GLAFCOS CLERIDIS, SAYING "Today the people decide, of Cyprus, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots decide for the future of Cyprus. Whatever the result is, what is important is that after today, we should all work together to extract Cyprus from the difficulties which we'll have to face." 1.39 10. SV CLERIDIS DEPARTING 1.43 (U3) NICOSIA, CYPRUS (TURKISH CONTROLLED) (APRIL 24, 2004) (REUTERS) 11. SV/MCU TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER RAUF DENKTASH AND HIS WIFE ARRIVING AT POLING STATION 1.58 12. CU DENKTASH AND WIFE HAVING POLLING CARDS CHECKED 2.00 13. SV DENKTASH VOTING 2.12 14. SV CAMERAS WAITING OUTSIDE 2.14 15. MCU (English) DENKTASH SAYING "This could not have been done in Europe because they are treated as civilised people. We are not looked upon in the same way. We are Cypriots. We can be pushed around, kicked around, told what to do. We don't know what is good for us. United States, United Kingdom, EU members know better. The result will be if both sides say yes, we shall continue to struggle about all the points." 2.55 (U3) GIRNE, TURKEY (TURKISH CONTROLLED) (APRIL 24, 2004) (REUTERS) 16. SV MEHMET ALI TALAT, ELECTED PRIME MINISTER OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS, VOTING 3.10 17. MCU (Turkish) MEHMET ALI TALAT SAYING "We are expecting a better future for us all in Cyprus. That's why we voted for (yes)." 3.29 (U3) NICOSIA, TURKEY (TURKISH CONTROLLED) (APRIL 24, 2004) (REUTERS) 18. SV/MCU OF PEOPLE VOTING (4 SHOTS) 3.51 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 9th May 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NICOSIA AND GIRNE, CYPRUS
- Country: Cyprus
- Reuters ID: LVA7DU149P6HRSWUYS82EAX9U399
- Story Text: Polls opened on the island of Cyprus for a crucial
referendum.
Some 600,000 voters on both sides of the island go
to polls amidst international pressure to accept a United
Nations peace plan engineered by UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan.
More than 480,000 Greek Cypriots will vote in
Saturday's (April 24) referendum, with a fierce campaign by
opponents to the plan dominating a week of campaigning.
Polls opened at 0700 local time, (04:00 gmt) and results were
expec
ted around 1930 (1630gmt).
"Whatever the result, this is a historic day for the
people of Cyprus - Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. I
hope whatever the result, we'll proceed ahead and better
days will come for both of us," Greek Cypriot President
Tassos Papadopoulos told reporters after casting his vote.
The United Nations, which keeps 1,200 peacekeepers on
the mined "Green Line" separating Greek and Turkish
Cypriots, said it had contingency plans if violence flares
in Saturday's historic vote. Cyprus cancelled police leave.
"Today the people decide, of Cyprus - both Greek
Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots decide for the future of
Cyprus. Whatever the result is, what is important is that
after today, we should all work together to extract Cyprus
from the difficulties which we'll have to face," said
former Greek Cypriot President Glafcos Cleridis after
casting his vote.
Forecasts say the separate referendums on a U.N. peace
plan will see a resounding "yes" from Turkish Cypriots in
the north and an overwhelming "no" from Greek Cypriots in
the south.
Nearly everyone expects the deal to fall through
because of opposition from the wealthier Greek Cypriots to
a power sharing plan they believe does not give them enough
territory and guarantees about the withdrawal of Turkish
troops.
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat
forecast a "high" yes vote that he said would show the
world it was Greek Cypriots standing in the way of peace.
He told reporters: "We are expecting a better future for us
all in Cyprus. That's why we voted for (yes)."
Cyprus was racked by intercommunal violence in the
1960s and was split when Turkey invaded the north in 1974
after a Greek Cypriot coup which aimed at union with Greece.
If either side votes "no" on Saturday, the
internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government in the
south will enter the European Union in May without the
north, which is only recognised by Turkey.
The local daily Cyprus Mail, reported that voters
supporting the plan were being harassed on the streets by
'no' voters, who according to last opinion polls, have a
dominant lead over 'yes' voters.
An EU parliament committee will investigate charges
made by the main Greek Cypriot opposition party of media
bias ahead of the Cyprus vote, a spokeswoman said on Friday.
In a late change the two sides agreed that their
referendums would both end at 6:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) with the
results expected only one or two hours later.
Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash criticised what he
called the interference of foreign powers, including the
EU, The United States (US), and Britain. He said: "This
could not have been done in Europe because they are treated
as civilised people. We are not looked upon in the same
way. We are Cypriots. We can be pushed around, kicked
around, told what to do. We don't know what is good for us.
United States, United Kingdom, EU members know better. The
result will be if both sides say yes, we shall continue to
struggle about all the points."
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