Turkish Cypriots Elect New President

A pro-reunification candidate was elected president of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state Sunday, riding a wave of frustration over decades of international isolation and a stagnant economy.

Mehmet Ali Talat will succeed Rauf R. Denktash, who dominated the enclave’s politics for three decades and is retiring. Talat won 56% of the vote for president of the self-declared Turkish Cypriot state; his main rival, Dervis Eroglu, polled 23%.

“I want to underline again that Turkish Cypriots are calling for reunification and EU membership,” Talat said after his victory was announced.

“I am also calling on the Greek Cypriot leaders that I am extending my hand for peace, and this hand will be there until it is held. I sincerely believe that one day this hand will be held,” he added.

Cyprus has been split into Turkish and Greek sectors since Turkey invaded in 1974, after a coup by supporters of union with Greece.

Last year, the island joined the European Union, but EU benefits only apply to the Greek Cypriot south.

Talat called on the European Union to “strongly support Turkish Cypriots” and said he was ready to meet with the Greek Cypriot president, Tassos Papadopoulos, to resolve issues such as cooperation between Turkish and Greek sector police and courts.

A majority of Turkish Cypriots had backed a United Nations-supported reunification plan in a referendum last year, but Greek Cypriots voted it down.

Talat supported the plan, but both Denktash and Papadopoulos opposed it.