News from Cyprus

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Countdown to polling day

The Central Election Commission is putting the final touches to preparations for Sunday’s presidential elections, contested by nine candidates, three of whom are running neck to neck according to opinion polls. Results, according to the Commission, are expected out by 2030 on Sunday evening but points out that this could change, if any problems arise during the counting of votes. Voting is compulsory by law. Electioneering ends at midnight Friday. The main three candidates in the presidential race are Papadopoulos, Christofias and Kasoulides. Recent opinion polls give a slight edge to Papadopoulos, but the outcome of the vote, with many voters still undecided or not replying to poll questions, still in the balance. The second live televised debate with the participation of all three candidates is due to go on air on Thursday, with the Cyprus question being the only item of their agenda. Speaking over the past few days on the issue, Papadopoulos said he wants a solution “with the right content which will be acceptable to Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and which will reunite the country, the economy, its society and institutions and will safeguard human rights.” “Together we have achieved a lot and I call on you to help achieve even more. My vision is a Cyprus free of Turkish troops, where our children will live in safety and enjoy the freedom that will give them the chance to plan for their future,” Papadopoulos said. He said his new contract with the people of Cyprus aims to increase the country’s contribution to the European Union, help claim what is due to us, improve the social state, create alliances and build cooperation that will help efforts to ‘rid the Republic of the continuing Turkish occupation’ and end the current division. “Today the UN agreement of July 2006, which is backed by the Security Council and the EU, is the only road to the resumption of substantive negotiations that will allow us to negotiate all the core issues of the Cyprus problem and find a mutually acceptable solution, in line with EU principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms,” he added. Addressing an election rally, Demetris Christofias said “dithering with regard to the solution we want does not help; rejecting or questioning the bizonal bicommunal federation and federation in general, seeking a unitary state and references to a new basis for a solution can only create confusion and cast doubt on our will for a settlement, among the international community.” He said his vision of a solution calls for the withdrawal of the Turkish army, the demilitarization of Cyprus and the reunification of the territory, the economy and the state institutions. “We have credibility because over the years we have remained firm in the principles of the solution we are seeking and the basis of that solution,” he said, adding that AKEL enjoys the trust of the vast majority of the Turkish Cypriots, which he described as a “powerful weapon we shall use to find a common language with them.” “We are more than ready to do just that. Unity on the home front is a prerequisite for any initiatives towards a settlement; nobody can shoulder the huge responsibility of handling the Cyprus question alone and for that reason we shall give a new momentum to the National Council,” Christofias said. In his remarks on Sunday, Ioannis Kasoulides said “the people want to hear from us how we intend to achieve our objectives and not slogans of a general outlook.” He said he sees no need to enter into consultations with others ahead of the second round of elections, adding he is certain he will be one of the two candidates to go through. “We have suffered setbacks because of the way Papadopoulos has handled the no vote in the April 2004 referendum on the UN proposed solution plan and not because the people of Cyprus rejected the plan,” he said. Kasoulides said he is talking about a solution within the “red lines” of the Greek Cypriot side, and criticized Papadopoulos for delaying five years to display his will to negotiate a settlement. A total of 515,994 voters will cast their ballots, including 390 Turkish Cypriots.