Greek Cypriot nationalists from both left and right have always had a strong sense of antagonism toward what they perceive as meddling, particularly by the West.
But the sheer ferocity of the backlash from a community which for so long championed a UN settlement has shocked even its longstanding friends.
"There is nothing unusual about people resenting being told what to do by foreigners," one diplomat said. "What is unusual is to keep relevant information away from the public ... and it should be relevant that people whose help they have asked for for the past 30 years think it's a balanced plan which deserves their support."
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