Interview on CNN Turk with Yasemin Gongar

SECRETARY POWELL:  Good afternoon.

MS. ÇONGAR:  Thank you for being with us.

Mr. Secretary, it's April 16th.  We have about a week left before the referenda in Cyprus.  Recently, you said -- you urged on the "yes" vote, and you said it's the balanced plan, and there is no balance, there is no plan B.

What did you say to those Greek Cypriots who may think that once they are in the EU, they will have a chance for a better settlement, and therefore are inclined to vote "no" on the referenda?

SECRETARY POWELL:  I would tell them to listen carefully to what Secretary General Annan said, and the all negotiators have said.  A lot of work has gone into this plan.  Compromises have been made on both sides.  Everybody -- nobody can say that they got everything they wanted; the Secretary General had to fill in some of the blanks at the end.

With that kind of effort and that kind of compromising, it won't be there again.  And it is not going to suddenly reappear after the Greek side of the island entered into the EU on the 1st of May.  This is the time for the whole island to enter the EU on the 1st of May.  That's why these referenda are so important.  There won't be a second chance.  And this is a plan that I think is balanced.  It serves the interest of both parties.

The Greek Cypriots, in large numbers, will be able to return to their homes.  Those that lost property will be compensated, to some extent.  The international community stands ready to assist in making sure that both parties meet all the elements, and all the requirements of the plan.  The donors community came together yesterday and $850 million has been pledged.  The United States pledged $400 million.  It isn't going to get better if it's turned down now.  There will not be a better plan out there.  This is liable to put this whole issue back into the freezer for, I don't know, how many years, and this is not wise.  This is not the way to go.

MS. ÇONGAR:  So the islands will be divided in the near future, if they don't --

SECRETARY POWELL:  The island is divided now, and it will stay divided if this -- if these referenda are not passed.  And what would one expect the Secretary General or the UN to do the day after a "no" vote?  They will have turned down, the Cypriots will have turned down the best opportunity for reconciliation and a settlement of this issue that has come along in many, many years.

And I suspect, and I predict, that if it's turned down this time, an opportunity like this will not be coming along for decades.  So this is the time to think positively.  This is the time for everybody, over the weekend, and over the course of the next several days, to talk to your family members, talk to your friends, talk to the people in your community.

Listen to your leaders, but weigh what they are saying to you.  And I hope when you have examined, both sides have examined what's in it for them, they will realize, you know, this is a pretty good deal.  We've got to vote "yes."

MS. ÇONGAR:  But you know the polls as well as I do, and they show a "yes" vote in the north.  If the Turks, the Cypriots, the Turkish Cypriots say "yes," and if the plan is rejected by a one-sided "no" vote in the south, would the U.S. do anything to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots?

SECRETARY POWELL:  We don't even want to speculate on what would happen after a "no" vote.  This is a time to talk about a "yes" vote, and I know the polls quite well, and I know there is greater support on the Turkish side than on the Greek Cypriot side.  But polls change.  Polls change as people examine the issue, people talk to other people, and realize what is in it for them:  returning to homes, traffic across the green line.

So many good things are in this plan.  But I hope when people balance what's in the plan and what's not in the plan, they would like to see in the plan, I hope they will come to the conclusion that the balance is in favor of voting "yes."

MS. ÇONGAR:  I respect that you don't want to speculate.  But the sentiment among the Turkish Cypriots is that, even if they say "yes," and if the plan is rejected, Cyprus will still be in the EU with only the representation of the Greeks, and then, you know, they will be punished.  They will really suffer from the consequences.

Would they expect, or should they expect the U.S. or other allies do something to balance their position?

SECRETARY POWELL:  I cannot tell you what might happen after the 1st May, if there is a "no" vote, and after the island comes in, only the Greek Cypriot part of the island, into the European Union.  I really don't want to have to face that right now.  I don't want to have to face it then.  I think so many different issues will then arise.  There will be such complications in the international environment, that we should do everything we can now to get that "yes" vote, and not lose energy speculating on the consequences of a "no" vote.

There will be no other plan coming along.  This is a gold opportunity that comes along every few decades.  It is here now, and it is now time for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to say, "Enough.  We have had this land of ours, this beautiful island of ours, separated for 40 years in two parts.  It is time now to reconcile.  It is time now to come together, enter the European Union as one island, two peoples, together again, with the opportunity for commerce, the opportunity for going back and forth, the opportunity to regain property that was lost."

This is a golden moment, and I hope that both Greek and Turkish Cypriots will seize it and vote "yes."

MS. ÇONGAR:  Can you tell now to both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots that there should not be anything to fear from the results of this referenda, if a "yes" vote materializes?

SECRETARY POWELL:  I don't think there is anything to fear.  If a "yes" vote materializes, the Secretary General, the United Nations, and the international community, the European Union, and the United States have made it clear that we will do everything to assist both parties in meeting their obligations, and we would expect them to meet their obligations, and we will use the weight of the international community and pressure the international community to make sure that obligations contained in the plan are met.

MS. ÇONGAR:  Okay.  Mr. Secretary, I know your time is precious.  Thank you very much for this opportunity.

SECRETARY POWELL:  Thank you.  My pleasure.

2004/414