Eroglu victory

DERVIS EROGLU, who supports Turkish Cypriot independence, claimed victory in the north’s ‘presidential’ election on Sunday.

Eroglu won more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off and beat incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat, according to preliminiary results.

Eroglu, who wants more autonomy for each community in any peace settlement, rules out concessions key to Greek Cypriots in reunification talks.

Any stalemate on Cyprus will further complicate Turkey’s ambitions to join the EU.

 

Diplomats have said an Eroglu victory could slow the pace of U.N.-backed reunification talks

Talat has led the talks from the Turkish Cypriot side since they began in 2008.

Eroglu, now the ‘prime minister’ in the north has said he will continue to negotiate, but his advertised positions are not acceptable to Greek Cypriots.

“Talks will continue because I want peace more than those who say that I don’t,” Eroglu told supporters at a rally after preliminary results indicated he had won.

“I seek a solution based on the realities of the island and a solution that all of us can live with.”

Eroglu wants more independence for each community in any peace settlement, a stance at odds with the basis of talks until now that the island should be a federation of two zones with an effective central government. He has also ruled out any Greek Cypriot return to land now held by Turks.

The conflict not only hampers Turkey’s bid to join the EU, but also complicates decision making on defence issues between the EU and NATO, of which Turkey is a member.

(Reuters)

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