The victor will be responsible 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.

 

Pro-reunification incumbent leader Mehmet Ali Talat is engaged in delicate peace talks with Greek Cypriots on reuniting Cyprus, which has been split since a Turkish military intervention in 1974 that was triggered by a coup by those who wanted the island to be unified with Greece.

 

Analysts believe Talat will seek re-election, and if he does, his likely challenger would be hard-liner Derviş Eroğlu, who trounced Talat’s party in parliamentary elections last year.

 

Eroğlu, 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 the 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 between Turkish Cypriots in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south.

 

The KKTC is recognized only by Ankara. Greek Cypriots say Turkey cannot join the EU while the island’s division remains unresolved.

 

The Turkish Cypriot electoral council said political parties have until March 9 to name their candidates. 

 

 

 

23 January 2010, Saturday

 

 

REUTERS WITH TODAY’S ZAMAN  NICOSIA