Brussels, 25/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - The president of the European Commission has offered his congratulations to Demetris Christofias after his election to the presidency of the Republic of Cyprus. The Communist candidate won the second round of the presidential elections on Sunday 24 February, receiving 53.36% of the votes, against 46.6% for his rival, the current member of the European Parliament Ioannis Kassoulides. In a press release published on Monday 25 February, José Manuel Barroso states that his victory now opens up the opportunity to work to resolve the question of the division of the island. “I would strongly encourage you to grasp this chance and without delay start negotiations under United Nations auspices with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community”, stressed Mr Barroso.
“This is a great day for all those who wish to see the island reunified”, said Francis Wurtz in a press release published on Sunday after the vote. “I am convinced that that this man, who is a man of principle and a statesman, will do all in his power to resume the process for the negotiation of a fair and definitive solution to the Cypriot problem. The page is turned. Hope is reborn”, said the president of the GUE-NGL group at the European Parliament. (A.B.)