A UN plan to reunify the war-divided island of Cyprus collapsed despite European and American support when Greek Cypriots rejected the proposal in one referendum and Turkish Cypriots endorsed it in another.
Saturday's referendum outcomes mean Cyprus will not join the EU on May 1 as a united state. Rather, EU laws and benefits will apply only to Greek Cypriots living in the island's south, according to a deal negotiated with European leaders.
Cyprus has been split into a Greek Cypriot-controlled south and a Turkish-occupied north since Turkey invaded in 1974 af-ter a coup by supporters of a union with Greece. The breakaway state is recognized only by Turkey, which maintains 40,000 troops there.
The reunification plan was drawn up by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the US was "disappointed" by the Greek Cypriot vote, calling it a "setback" to those seeking a united Cyprus. Washington had warned of repercussions if the plan was defeated, potentially jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in US aid.
Greek Cypriots largely objec-ted to limits on the right of Greek Cypriot refugees to return to homes they fled when the island was divided, while allowing tens of thousands of Turkish settlers who arrived after the 1974 invasion by Turkey to remain.
Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said the plan's defeat did not mean that Greek Cypriots were "turning their backs" on Turkish Cypriots.
"They have simply rejected this particular solution for many reasons, but mainly because they did not believe that this solution provides the necessary safeguards for its full implementation," said Papadopoulos, who campaigned against the plan.
"The only real beneficiary of this plan would have been Turkey."
The plan foresaw a federation of two politically equal states -- one for the 643,000 Greek Cypriots and one for the 180,000 Turks and Turkish Cypriots -- under a weak central government.
It would have reduced the area under Turkish control, requiring entire villages to relocate so houses could be returned to their original Greek Cypriot owners.
The number of foreign troops -- 40,000 Turks and 6,000 Greeks -- would have been reduced to no more than 1,600 by 2018.
Turkey's government has been pushing for a solution to the island's division, hoping a resolution could improve Turkey's own chances at joining the EU. The US, the EU and others backed the plan.
But official results showed almost 76 percent of Greek Cypriot voters rejected it. About 65 percent of Turkish Cypriot voters supported it.
Greek Cypriot Ioannis Kyriakides, a 55-year-old chemical engineer, said he voted against the plan because it did not guarantee protection against another Turkish invasion.
Turkish Cypriots favored the plan because they saw it as a means to greater prosperity and EU membership. Cem Aydan, a 35-year-old businessman, said he voted for the plan "for the future of my son and for the future of all the children of the island."
Turnouts were at least 88 percent in the south and 87 percent in the north, election officials said.
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