Proponent of Reconciliation Wins Elections in Turkish-Cypriot Sector

Mustafa Akinci, an independent candidate who participated in the presidential elections of the predominantly Turkish-Cypriot northern part of Cyprus and is considered a supporter of reconciliation regarding the island's unification, won with over 60 percent of the votes in the second round. The predominantly Turkish-Cypriot northern part of Cyprus held these elections on Sunday, April 25, and Akinci's victory over his rival, Derviş Eroğlu (the current president), is expected to accelerate UN-backed efforts for the unification of Cyprus. Counting of nearly all polling stations shows that Mustafa Akinci, the former mayor of Nicosia, has secured 60.4 percent of the votes. According to AFP, he stated among reporters, 'When the time for change comes, no power can stop it.' Reports indicate that voters had gone to polling stations from early morning. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, after the Turkish army took control of the north, along a ceasefire line monitored by the UN. Only Turkey recognizes the independence of the northern part of the island, referred to as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the European Union, although its membership faced opposition from the then-prime minister of the Turkish-Cypriot sector. The Greek Cypriot part of the island joined the EU on April 1, 2004, following a negative vote by the majority of the Greek Cypriots on a unification plan, while the majority in the Turkish-Cypriot sector voted in favor of unification. In 2004, one of the conditions for the potential accession of Turkey to the EU was the recognition of all members, including the Republic of Cyprus, by Ankara.