NICOSIA: Presidential elections in breakaway northern Cyprus, seen as crucial to the reunification process on the ethnically split island, will be held on April 18, authorities said on Friday.
The winner of the vote will have responsibility for negotiating a peace deal with rival Greek Cypriots. Failure to resolve the conflict could hurt Turkey’s bid to join the European Union and complicate cooperation between the EU and NATO.
Leftist incumbent leader Mehmet Ali Talat is engaged in delicate peace talks with Greek Cypriots on reuniting Cyprus, which has been split since a Turkish invasion in 1974 that was triggered by a short-lived Greek-led coup.
Analysts believe Talat will seek reelection, and if he does his likely challenger would be hard-liner Dervis Eroglu, who trounced Talat’s party in parliamentary elections last year.
Eroglu, who now holds the position of prime minister in northern Cyprus, has advocated a two-state settlement to Cyprus’s division, a prospect rejected by Greek Cypriots who now represent the whole island in the European Union.
Cyprus hosts one of the world’s longest serving UN peacekeeping forces monitoring a cease-fire line with Turkish Cypriots in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south. Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Ankara. Greek Cypriots say Turkey cannot join the EU while the island’s divison remains unresolved.
The Turkish Cypriot electoral council said political parties have until March 9 to name their candidates.
