International community has urged Cypriots to re-start the deadlocked reunification talks following the election of a pro-solution Demetris Christofias to the island state's new presidency.
Parliament Speaker and General Secretary of the left-wing party AKEL Christofias won a crucial runoff on Sunday, becoming Cyprus' new president and Greek Cypriot leader.
Being more conciliatory towards Turkish Cypriots living in the north, Christofias has maintained good relationship with their leadership, which is regarded as an advantage for future inter-community negotiations.
Incumbent President Tassos Papadopoulos, a hardliner in reunification talks, failed in his bid for re-election in the neck-and-neck first round poll on Feb. 17.
The Turkish Cypriots have blamed him for the stalemate in talks, arguing the lawyer by profession was not willing to share power with them in a new partnership state they want to establish.
To the Turkish Cypriots and the international community, the local daily Cyprus Mail said in a comment, any president other than Papadopoulos was a hope for progress.
The president-elect was quick in announcing that his responsibility is to unite and represent all the citizens and turn Cyprus into "a happy homeland" for both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat was among the first who called Christofias by phone to congratulate him on his election victory.
The two leaders have agreed to meet as soon as possible and discuss their forthcoming talks on how to revive the deadlocked negotiations.
Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of European Commission, which had encouraged a united Cyprus to enter the European Union (EU) in 2004, said in a message that Christofias' election "offers the opportunity to overcome the longstanding stalemate on the Cyprus issue."
"I would strongly encourage you to grasp this chance and without delay start negotiations under United Nations (UN) auspices with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community on a comprehensive settlement," said Barroso.
Barroso was joined by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus, Michael Moller, who welcomed "the President-elect's intention to move quickly to start talks with a view to reaching a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem."
Moller added he looks forward to "an early meeting of the leaders and stands ready to assist them."
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers who pushed for a union with Greece.
In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot authorities declared a breakaway territory and set up the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey.
For several decades, the United Nations has launched one initiative after another to bring the leaders of the two communities to negotiation tables for a viable solution but failed so far, mainly due to the lack of political will.
In a referendum held in April 2004, Greek Cypriots under the leadership of Papadopoulos rejected the Annan Plan, named after then UN Secretary-General, while Turkish Cypriots approved it.
Most Greek Cypriots, who supported Papadopoulos in the past, found after a lapse of another several years that the deadlock and delay may only lead to permanent partition.
Mechtild Rothe, Vice President of the European Parliament, echoed the call for "a prompt initiative to overcome the division"in a congratulatory statement.
"With the election of Christofias there is now hope to revive the stalled negotiations between the two ethnic groups in Cyprus," she said.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has also expressed that the elections in Cyprus have generated a "renewed sense of hope" among both communities on the island, that progress towards a comprehensive settlement can be achieved during 2008.
"I hope we can build on this momentum through early efforts to build trust and confidence between the two communities," he added.
British High Commissioner to Cyprus has conveyed an official invitation to Christofias to visit London for talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, according to a Cyprus News Agency report.
The American Embassy in Nicosia said in a statement that like other members of the international community, the American government remains committed to utilizing good offices in the quest for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, and believe 2008 offers "a window of opportunity" for significant progress.
Source: Xinhua
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