Ariddia
25-02-2008, 14:15
Worth noting, methinks.
THE European Union has its first Communist head of state, after Demetris Christofias defeated his right-wing rival in Greek Cypriot elections, that have renewed hopes of a deal to reunify the island.
Final results gave the Moscow-educated politician 53.36 per cent of the vote, against 46.64 per cent for Ioannis Kasoulides.
Mr Christofias replaces a septuagenarian hardliner, Tassos Papadopoulos, who led Greek Cypriots to reject a United Nations reunification plan four years ago.
Mr Christofias, 61, has better contacts with the Kremlin than with the White House or Downing Street, but his victory will cause few jitters in Brussels or London. His party – Akel, the Progressive Party of the Working People – puts pragmatism before its Marxist-Leninist ideology and is social democrat in practice.
More important to the EU is his commitment to reach out to the estranged Turkish Cypriot community and explore new ways of reuniting the island. Cyprus's 34-year-old division is an irritant to the EU and a major obstacle to Turkey's hopes of joining.
(link (http://news.scotsman.com/world/Unity-hope-as-Cypriots-vote.3810442.jp))
Hours after the polls in Cyprus closed, president-elect President Dimitris Christofias promised to begin reunification talks with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart. Yet the process is likely to be slow and difficult.
In an acceptance speech before a stadium of cheering supporters after polls closed Sunday, Feb. 24, Christofias said he'd already spoken with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat about arranging a meeting.
"I offer a hand of friendship and cooperation to the Turkish Cypriots and their leadership. I urge them to work together with us for the common good of the people in a climate of peace," Christofias said Sunday.
Talat, who heads the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, called Christofias to congratulate him shortly after his win, and the two have agreed to meet, an aide to Talat told AFP.
Reunification became a major election theme as Cypriots signaled their frustration with the former government's unwillingness to negotiate. Christofias' election victory has revived hopes that a peace process can be resumed.
(link (http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3147462,00.html))
And here's the article from Hürriyet (http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/8306387.asp?gid=74&sz=5870).
THE European Union has its first Communist head of state, after Demetris Christofias defeated his right-wing rival in Greek Cypriot elections, that have renewed hopes of a deal to reunify the island.
Final results gave the Moscow-educated politician 53.36 per cent of the vote, against 46.64 per cent for Ioannis Kasoulides.
Mr Christofias replaces a septuagenarian hardliner, Tassos Papadopoulos, who led Greek Cypriots to reject a United Nations reunification plan four years ago.
Mr Christofias, 61, has better contacts with the Kremlin than with the White House or Downing Street, but his victory will cause few jitters in Brussels or London. His party – Akel, the Progressive Party of the Working People – puts pragmatism before its Marxist-Leninist ideology and is social democrat in practice.
More important to the EU is his commitment to reach out to the estranged Turkish Cypriot community and explore new ways of reuniting the island. Cyprus's 34-year-old division is an irritant to the EU and a major obstacle to Turkey's hopes of joining.
(link (http://news.scotsman.com/world/Unity-hope-as-Cypriots-vote.3810442.jp))
Hours after the polls in Cyprus closed, president-elect President Dimitris Christofias promised to begin reunification talks with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart. Yet the process is likely to be slow and difficult.
In an acceptance speech before a stadium of cheering supporters after polls closed Sunday, Feb. 24, Christofias said he'd already spoken with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat about arranging a meeting.
"I offer a hand of friendship and cooperation to the Turkish Cypriots and their leadership. I urge them to work together with us for the common good of the people in a climate of peace," Christofias said Sunday.
Talat, who heads the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, called Christofias to congratulate him shortly after his win, and the two have agreed to meet, an aide to Talat told AFP.
Reunification became a major election theme as Cypriots signaled their frustration with the former government's unwillingness to negotiate. Christofias' election victory has revived hopes that a peace process can be resumed.
(link (http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3147462,00.html))
And here's the article from Hürriyet (http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/8306387.asp?gid=74&sz=5870).