Communist wins Cyprus vote
Demetris Christofias, who backs reunification talks, emerges victor after run-off.
Christofias is the European Union’s only communist head of state, and Cyprus the only European country with a communist president besides ex-Soviet Moldova.
The election pitted the two candidates against each other after the elimination of Tassos Papadopoulos, the outgoing president, in the first round on February 17.
Reunification hopes
Thousands of people cast their vote in an election seen as vital for the reunification prospects of Cyprus, which has been partitioned since the 1970s.
Christofias has sent a message of friendship to ‘ordinary Turkish Cypriots’ [AFP] |
Speaking at a victory rally on Sunday, Christofias: “We have a vision, we have a history of struggle and contact with the people in our efforts to reunify our country without foreign troops.
The two have reportedly agreed to meet.
“We foresee a productive co-operation for the benefit of the two communities for a viable and just solution to the problem,” Christofias said.
Turkey invaded in 1974 following a Greek-inspired coup aimed at uniting it with Greece.
A breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in north Cyprus is recognised only by Ankara, while the Greek Cypriot in south represents the whole island in the EU.