9 years after the
Annan Plan, Turkish
Cypriots continue to
call on the
international
community to deliver
on their promises.
9 years ago on 24
April 2004, Turkish
Cypriots voted in a
referendum in favor
of the “Annan Plan”,
the UN plan on the
comprehensive
resolution of the
Cyprus problem and
the unification of
the island, which
would consequently
result in the EU
membership of a new
Cyprus on 1 May
2004.
Despite the 65%
affirmative vote of
the Turkish
Cypriots, the Plan
could not succeed in
its goals due to the
no vote of 75% of
the Greek Cypriots.
Ironically, as the
party who voted
against unification
and joint EU
membership, South
Cyprus unilaterally
acceded to the EU,
leaving the Turkish
Cypriots out in the
cold and under
isolation.
Following this
anomaly, the EU and
the international
community expressed
their strong will to
end the isolation of
the Turkish Cypriots
who were left out of
the EU due to no
fault of their own.
Yet 9 years on, they
still fail to
deliver on their
promises.
KTTO and the Turkish
Cypriot business
community it
represents played a
leading role during
the Annan Plan
negotiations in
explaining the range
of benefits
unification and EU
membership would
bring to all
Cypriots and in
mobilizing the
Turkish Cypriot
community for a
“yes’ vote in the
referendum. We
continue to be
committed to a fair
and sustainable
political solution
in Cyprus and
believe that the
first step towards
this goal lies in
ending the isolation
of the Turkish
Cypriot people and
in allowing them to
fully be a part of
the EU community
politically,
economically and
socially.
On the 9th
anniversary of the
referendum, KTTO
sent a letter to the
EU reminding them of
the promises made by
the international
community to Turkish
Cypriots.
To read official
statements by the
international
community following
the 2004 referenda,
please
click here.
About Us
Established in 1958, the
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of
Commerce (KTTO) is an
internationally-recognized
organization, representing
the Turkish Cypriot business
community at home and
abroad.
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