Cyprus chooses a communist president

Andres Parachos considers that reservations expressed by certain foreign newspapers regarding Demetris Christofias are unfounded. "As if Aphrodite's island had gone back a century in time and was about to become the Mediterranean's Cuba. But us Cypriots know very well, the Communist Party (AKEL) is not and never has been a traditional Communist party. ... Since independence in 1960, the party has always been part of the various governments. It is more a moderate party, like the social democrats, than anything else. His reaching power gives hope, hope for a fast resolution of the problem that has cut Cyprus in two for almost 34 years. ... Christofias has sent a message to the Turkish Cypriot leader [Mehmet Ali Talat], also a Communist, a message of union, aiming for the resumption peace talks. The two leaders of the island have affinities. They are moderate and could turn their backs on the major powers that are arguing over the island but doing nothing to solve the problem."

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