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Cyprus Vote Raises Hopes for Unification

Posted Feb 18, 08 1:55 PM CST in World 

(Newser) – After decades of division, Cyprus is a step closer to unification, AFP reports. Greek Cypriots ousted incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos in a three-way election yesterday, and the two remaining candidates will face off in another vote on Sunday. Both seem willing to reach out to Turkish Cypriots, mending bridges the hard-line Papadopoulos administration nearly burned.

In 2004, Papadopoulos rejected a plan to reunite the island, which has been divided since 1974 between the Turkish north and Greek south. His defeat represents “a new start, with a more realistic approach by the Greek Cypriots,” one analyst said. “They will be more flexible.” One remaining candidate, communist leader Demetris Christofias, is trying to win over Papadopoulos supporters by promising tough negotiations.

Source AFP

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Demetris Christofias, head of the reformed communist AKEL party waves to his supporters outside of his campaign headquarters in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday Feb. 17, 2008. President Tassos Papadopoulos...   (Associated Press)
Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos concedes defeat in a brief speech at his campaign headquarters in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008. Papadopoulos was eliminated Sunday from Cyprus' presidential...   (Associated Press)
Demetris Christofias, 61, head of the reformed communist AKEL party with his grandson Dimitris votes in the Presidential election in Makedonitissa, a suburb of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday,...   (Associated Press)
Cyprus' incumbent president Tassos Papadopoulos leaves a polling booth after voting in the presidential election in Deftera, suburb of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008. Cypriots...   (Associated Press)
Incumbent former Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides of right-wing party DISY reacts to his supporters during the final campaign rally in Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. Greek Cypriots vote on...   (Associated Press)
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Turkey • Greece • Cyprus • Dimitris Christofias • Greek Cypriots • Turkish Cypriots • Ioannis Kasoulides


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