Editing Cyprus problem (section)

===Referendums, 24 April 2004===
{{main|Cypriot Annan Plan referendums, 2004}}
Under the terms of the plan, the Annan plan would only come into force if accepted by the two communities in simultaneous [[2004 Cypriot Annan Plan referendums|referendums]]. These were set for 24 April 2004. In the weeks that followed there was intense campaigning in both communities. However, and in spite of opposition from Rauf Denktaş, who had boycotted the talks in [[Switzerland]], it soon became clear that the Turkish Cypriots would vote in favour of the agreement. Among Greek Cypriots opinion was heavily weighted against the plan. [[Tassos Papadopoulos]], the president of Cyprus, in a speech delivered on 7 April called on Greek Cypriots to reject the plan. His position was supported by the centrist Diko party and the socialists of EDEK as well as other smaller parties. His major coalition partner [[AKEL]], one of the largest parties on the island, chose to reject the plan bowing to the wishes of the majority of the party base. Support for the plan was voiced by [[Democratic Rally]] (DISY) leadership, the main right-wing party, despite opposition to the plan from the majority of party followers, and the [[United Democrats]], a small centre-left party led by [[George Vasiliou]], a former president. [[Glafcos Clerides]], now retired from politics, also supported the plan. Prominent members of DISY who did not support the Annan plan split from the party and openly campaigned against it. The Greek Cypriot Church also opposed the plan in line with the views of the majority of public opinion.

The United Kingdom (a Guarantor Power) and the United States came out in favour of the plan. Turkey signalled its support for the plan. The Greek Government decided to remain neutral. However, Russia was troubled by an attempt by Britain and the US to introduce a resolution in the UN [[Security Council]] supporting the plan and used its veto to block the move. This was done because they believed that the resolution would provide external influence to the internal debate, which they did not view as fair.<ref>[http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sc8066.doc.htm UN Security Council Press Release SC / 8066]</ref>

In 24 April [[referendum]] the Turkish Cypriots endorsed the plan by a margin of almost two to one. However, the Greek Cypriots resoundingly voted against the plan, by a margin of about three to one.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Referendum results
|- style="text-align:center;"
!rowspan=2|Referendum result!!colspan=2| Yes!!colspan=2|No!!rowspan=2|Turnout
|-
! Total !! % !! Total !! %
|- style="text-align:center;"
|Turkish Cypriot community|| 50,500 || 64.90% ||14,700 ||35.09% || 87%
|- style="text-align:center;"
|Greek Cypriot Community ||99,976 ||24.17%||313,704||75.83%|| 88%
|- style="text-align:center;"
|Total legitimate ballots in all areas||150,500||31.42%||328,500||68.58% ||<!-- 88% calculated - need source -->
|}