"Poll clouds peace-talk effort between Cypriots" by Associated Press | April 17, 2010
NICOSIA, Cyprus — Turkish Cypriots vote tomorrow for a new leader in an election cast as a choice between a dovish incumbent striving for reunification with rival Greek Cypriots and a hard-line challenger seeking to bolster a breakaway state.
Opinion polls show most of the tiny breakaway state’s 164,000 voters choosing right-winger Dervis Eroglu to replace Mehmet Ali Talat. If the election bears out the poll predictions, it will be a stunning reversal from five years ago, when the leftist leader swept to power on a pro-peace platform.
Yeah, PEACE sure does seem to be on the retreat just about everywhere.
A Turkish Cypriot swing to the right has sparked fears that slow-moving reunification talks between Talat and Dimitris Christofias, the island’s Greek Cypriot president, could be scuttled. Failure at the negotiating table would halt Turkey’s drive for European Union membership and cripple closer EU-NATO security cooperation.
Now I'm not so sure it will be a bad thing the way the MSM is presenting this to me; however, when PEACE is INVOLVED.... I'll take WHATEVER I CAN GET!
Cyprus is already blocking parts of Turkey’s EU membership negotiation process because of Ankara’s refusal to recognize the Greek Cypriot government.
Cyprus was split into an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north in 1974. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with a population of 257,000, is recognized only by NATO-member Turkey, which maintains 35,000 troops there.
Sort of like an occupation force?
The island joined the EU in 2004, but only the south’s 800,000 Greek Cypriots enjoy membership benefits.
The Turk feels a bit like a second-class citizen, 'eh?
I can't imagine that the religion has anything to do with it.
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And the counts are in on Cyprus!
"Hard-liner’s win could complicate Cyprus reunification" by Associated Press | April 19, 2010
NICOSIA, Cyprus — Hard-line challenger Dervis Eroglu won a key Turkish Cypriot leadership election yesterday and vowed to continue peace talks amid fears his victory could grind reunification negotiations with the Greek Cypriots to a halt and scuttle Turkey’s bid for European Union membership.
Eroglu won just enough votes for an outright victory, with 50.38 percent compared to leftist incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat’s 42.85 percent, according to results posted on the Turkish Cypriot High Electoral Board’s website. Candidates needed 50 percent plus one vote to avoid a runoff. It was a much closer race than expected; opinion polls had consistently predicted Eroglu to win by a wide margin....
I smell an ATTEMPTED RIGGING AVERTED by a MASSIVE VOTE for the right-winger.
Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Turkish Cypriots declared their half of the island to be an independent republic in 1983, but Turkey is the only nation that recognizes it.
I'm ALWAYS for LOCAL CONTROL and INDEPENDENCE.
NICOSIA, Cyprus — A hard-liner’s victory in the Turkish Cypriot presidential election could bring deadlock to peace talks with Greek Cypriots and spell the end of Turkey’s bid for European Union membership, analysts said yesterday.
Nationalist Dervis Eroglu narrowly defeated leftist incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat....
Eroglu's insistence on sovereignty for the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus could upend the federal framework that Talat and the island’s Greek Cypriot president, Dimitris Christofias, hammered out in 19 months of negotiations.
The island’s division is already hampering Turkey’s EU bid and failure of the talks would end it.
Eroglu’s victory was due mainly to disillusionment with Talat, whom many Turkish Cypriots fault for not delivering on a promise of a swift agreement.
Wow, that ANTI-INCUMBENT ATTITUDE is SWEEPING the Globe, 'eh?
But why would the vote in someone taking a backward step for peace?
The feelings toward the leaders is that strong everywhere?
SEND 'EM a MESSAGE come hell or high water!
With a clear mandate, there is little incentive for Eroglu to abandon his support for two separate states on the island.
WTF? He squeaked by with just over 50%.
I'm sorry, but that ain't no mandate.
But
Can I get a penny every time I see that word in my newspaper?
It will add up quick.
he has pledged to press on with negotiations, in consultation with Turkey. Analysts say his assurances don’t inspire confidence of progress because he opposes a federal system.
The EU Commission said in a statement that it is crucial that peace talks go on....
Well, if those globalists are wanting of it.... congratulations, Turkish Cypriots.
This wasn't about peace talks at all; this was about globalists and their little European laboratory.
But hey, what is one more deception and distortion in my newspaper?
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Also see: The MSM's Wide Latitude
