What Now, Cyprus?

The "NO" of the free and democratic people of Cyprus and the "YES" of the not free and not under democracy living people of Cyprus shows that the unification of the island must go on not with international pressure and shows us that the people don't want to hear the U.S.-UK leaders what they have to do in their own country. The EU now has to show the world that a member of the union and a part of the people are under occupation. It will be a EU problem now and so first time in the history of the EU the politicians have to solve a problem in their own house by themselves and show the U.S. that the EU is able to be a real union. -- Nikolaos Vlahopoulos

I believe that every effort must be made to welcome the northern Cypriots into the world community. Conversely, the south should be shown that blatent disconcern for the "needs of the many" will not be ignored by the international policy makers worldwide. A lesson needs to be made that peace and cooperation are more important that nationalist fervor and cultural isolation. -- Michael Lesnoski, USA

This will lead to further conflict in the island. -- Aamir Khan

Was this plan made to unite the Greek and Turkish Cypriots or for the benefit of some other reasons? -- Evelyn Christodoulou

The young people of northern Cyprus should be given the same chances as the rest of the World, to travel on their passports and to have a more prosperous future, which the Greek Cypriots have just denied them again. If the International community drags their feet on lifting restrictions on northern Cyprus it will just prove again to the Turkish Cypriot the bias they have been showing all along. -- Lynn Connell

I was looking forward to a reconciliation between both parties to the satisfaction of each. -- Patrick Davy

The Greek Cypriot people voting 'no' to the plan will be seen actually to be voting 'yes' to cement the partition. That will effectively mean that Northern Cyprus will gain legitimacy, especially since the Turkish Cypriots voted 'yes' to the plan. Looks like a win-win situation for the north, doesn't it? -- Dean C. C. Thomas, USA

The self declared Turkish Republic of Cyprus has not been recognized by any country in the world for several reasons all of which still hold. It would be more reasonable to try and address the key concerns of the Cypriots and then try again. I feel that a solution is within reach here and we should not give up. -- Pantelis Koul

Reunification should not be at the expense of the rights of those who have been deprived of their property for the last thirty years as a consequence of Turkey’s invasion and illegal occupation of part of the island, nor at the expense of the broader human rights of all Greek-Cypriots. -- Ana Dimitriou, Australia

This decision will probably result into in the North demanding a separate state with legitimate borders and international acceptance. However, if Turkey`s EU membership application gets rejected by the EU, I fear the separation of Cyprus will also worsen relations between Europe and the Turkish people. -- Atilla A. Iftikhar

The Greek-Cypriots were right in rejecting unification. The burden now should be on the Turkish-Cypriots to foster a regime change and realize that for what they want they too, will have to surrender some things. -- Patricia Mc Coy