GREECE: Half a million Greek Cypriots go to the polls tomorrow to elect a new president for the island republic at a crucial juncture in reunification negotiations with the Turkish Cypriots, writes Michael Jansen in Nicosia.
Opinion polls predict that the challenger, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos (69), head of the centre right Democratic Party, could defeat the incumbent, Mr Glafkos Clerides (84), in the first round but would be more likely to do so in the second round, set for the 23rd.
Of the other eight candidates only one is a serious contender, Mr Alecos Markides, the country's attorney general who is standing as an independent. During the last week of campaigning, Mr. Clerides's supporters from the right wing Democratic Rally have been making a last ditch attempt to deny Mr Papadopoulos victory in the first round in the expectation that their candidate could pick up votes before the second round.
Mr Clerides, who has already served two full five year terms, has asked for an abbreviated 16 month term during which he would seek a settlement with the Turkish Cypriots so that the island, as a whole, could enter the EU in the spring of 2004. "It would be wrong to change the negotiating team midway through the talks," is Mr Clerides's argument, claiming that he has the "right credentials" with the international community, the UN which is brokering the talks, and the Turkish Cypriots to bring the talks with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, to a successful conclusion. Mr Papadopoulos , a former negotiator who is backed by the former Communist Party, Akel, a small liberal grouping called Kisos and the Greens, has dismissed this. If elected, he said he would negotiate with an open mind and in good faith to find a "workable and viable settlement".
Although critical negotiations have been taking place since mid-January, there is no sign of a breakthrough. Mr Denktash continues to insist on diplomatic recognition for this breakaway state and the creation of a weak confederation of two independent states rather than the federation proposed by the UN.
The ruling Turkish Justice and Development Party initially supported a solution based on the proposal put foward by the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, but the party recently said there could be no Cyprus settlement until after the Iraq issue is settled.
Turkey expects to receive US backing over Cyprus in exchange for co-operation with Washington's prospective military campaign in Iraq.