The Church of Cyprus has categorically rejected the UN-proposed Cyprus Peace Plan, arguing that it is unfair and unviable and not in line with the principles of the international organization, writes Annie Charalambous in ‘The Cyprus Weekly’ of 22.11.2002. The Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus also believes the plan is contrary to international law and European Court of Human Rights rulings and basically legalizes the ‘fait accompli’ of the Turkish invasion and occupation.

‘The UN Secretary General is entitled to secure international peace and unity and must be the guardian of the principles and decisions of the UN and the Security Council resolutions and International law,’ the island’s Orthodox Bishops said in a three-page press release. They listed the proposed settlement’s negative points for the Greek Cypriot side highlighting the violated right of free movement, settlement and property. ‘The settlement legalizes the permanent stay of illegal settlers, depriving refugees of their right to return to their ancestral homes,’ the release added. Moreover, the Bishops argue that the veto right provided for all three branches - the executive, the legislative and the judiciary - equates the Greek Cypriots who constitute 82% of the island’s population to the Turkish Cypriot minority of 18%.

‘All these points make for an unfair and unviable solution... For the Church of Cyprus it is an indispensable prerequisite that the settlement of the Cyprus problem must provide for one sovereignty, a single citizenship and international representation but must also secure a just, viable and workable solution,’ they also said.

The Synod also objected to the pressing deadlines set by the Secretary General.

Moreover, Bishop Chrysostomos of Paphos, who is the most senior in hierarchy, slammed President Clerides accusing him ‘of telling us one thing [about the plan] and presenting us with another.’ But Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou strongly denied the allegations, calling the Synod’s reaction ‘a maximum distortion of the truth.’ ‘The President had a meeting with the Bishops before the [UN] plan was tabled and gave them a good picture of what was to be expected,’ he added.

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece expressed solidarity with the position of the Church of Cyprus in its November 21 statement . ‘The Church of Greece notes with satisfaction, as it appears, that Cyprus has been invited to join the European Union,’ states the Holy Synod. ‘The Church of Greece also notes with satisfaction the decision of the Secretary General of the United Nations to assume the initiative for a resolution of the Cyprus issue. The Church ascertains, however, that the Secretary General’s plan proposed is not firm, as it should have been, upon the Resolutions of the Organization which he represents. The Church ascertains too that the plan is not guided by the juridical ideas of the European Union, which the Republic of Cyprus has been invited to join and in which it will develop. On the contrary, this plan suggests the possibility of long-term trials and conflict, despite its references to the convergence of circumstances and political balances. Given these, the Church cannot laud the plan of the Secretary General of the United Nations for it deems that it is not one that will yield a genuine resolution of the Cyprus issue.’