Cyprus Will Resume Unity Talks

Cyprus leaders already agree to hold talks

(NEWSER) - Greek Cypriots have elected a communist president committed to reunification with the Turkish northern section of the divided island. Dimitris Christofias, educated in the old Soviet Union, won 54% of the vote in a race against his right-wing rival. The new leader has promised to hold negotiations with the president of the Turkish part of Cyprus, who has already agreed to begin talks, reports the Daily Telegraph. More»

'Pragmatic' winner not hard-line red: analysts

(NEWSER) - New President Dimitris Christofias' win in Cyprus makes him the first Communist ever to lead an EU state—but he has pledged to work within the free market, reports the Guardian. His party has a Marxist manifesto, but analysts say that Christofias is a pragmatist whose policies are more social democratic than old-school Communist. More»

Incumbent ousted; 2 pro-compromise candidates go to run-off

(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. More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama addressed the Turkish parliament today, and used the opportunity to extend an olive branch to the Muslim world, the New York Times reports. “The United States is not, and will never be, at war with Islam,” said Obama. “America’s relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not just be based on opposition to al-Qaeda.” More»

Franco-US relations sour over Turkey tiff

(NEWSER) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy put an end to Barack Obama's European honeymoon when the US leader pushed for Turkey's membership in the European Union, reports the Times of London. The move would signal that Muslims are "our friends, neighbors and partners," Obama suggested. Sarkozy, who opposes Turkey's membership, quickly rebuffed him, snapping: "It is up to member states of the EU to decide." More»