Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-02-24

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - PROCLAMATION

[02] CHRISTOFIAS - TALAT - MEETING

[03] US - CHRISTOFIAS ELECTION

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - PROCLAMATION

House President and General Secretary of AKEL Christofias was proclaimed President of the Republic on Sunday evening, having won the runoff presidential elections with a majority of 53.36%.

Speaking to cheering fans, party members and supporters after the proclamation, Christofias said he would fight for a just settlement of the Cyprus problem and called on the Turkish Cypriots to cooperate for the common goal, which was the best for Cyprus and its people.

Chief Returning Officer Lazaros Savvides said Christofias received over 50% of the valid votes and thus proclaimed him elected President of the Republic.

Thousands of people rallied to Eleftheria stadium, in Nicosia, where the proclamation took place, waving party flags and banners, Cypriot and Greek flags, chanting slogans in Christofias support as they celebrated their election victory. This is the first time AKEL has put forward its won candidate for the presidency.

Thousands of people were gathered outside the stadium, which was too small to shelter the jubilant supporters, including Turkish Cypriots.

People showered Christofias with flowers and cheered their leader as he entered the stadium.

In his speech, Christofias said the people made their decision in the runoff election and thanked all the political parties and movements that supported him and trusted him with their votes in the first and second round of the elections, especially leftwing AKEL, of which he is General Secretary.

He paid tribute to his opponent in the runoff election Ioannis Kasoulides, noting that ``beyond our differences, above all we are united by a common ideology, our Cyprus and its salvation.``

Christofias also thanked outgoing President Tassos Papadopoulos for their cooperation and his service to the country, adding that ``our communication will be maintained and his participation in the National Council is given.``

He said ``our democracy worked excellently, as it will work excellently throughout my term in office,`` adding that his pre-election commitments were ``a contract of honour that we have signed with the people.``

``We will implement it punctually. As President of the Republic of Cyprus I have the responsibility of uniting and representing all the citizens,`` Christofias said, adding that ``we have a clear vision, a vision to reunite our Cyprus, rid the country of the Turkish occupation and its consequences, turn it into a happy homeland for all its children, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.``

Christofias thanked the Greek political leadership, as well as the Turkish Cypriot leaders, for their wishes, noting that ``we look forward to substantive cooperation to the benefit of both communities, above all a just, viable and functional settlement of the Cyprus problem.``

``We are pursuing a just settlement, a solution based on UN resolutions and decisions, the high level agreements of 1977 and 1979, the European and international law,`` he said, adding that ``we will fight for a just settlement.``

``Cyprus, as an EU member, is proceeding with dignity and pride,`` Christofias said and called on the Turkish Cypriots and their political leadership ``to work together for our common goal, which is the best for Cyprus and its people.``

Christofias added that ``our vision is a fairer society with economic development, coupled with more social justice, a modern state that will stand by its citizens in need.``

He furthermore referred to his priorities regarding education, health, safety, culture, sports, the environment, sustained development and combating drug use. ``A precondition for this is a strong economy,`` he said.

Christofias said the government he would be forming would comprise competent and progressive personalities, adding that he would give special emphasis to ``all that unites us.``

``I am President from the people and will be President for the people,`` he concluded.

[02] CHRISTOFIAS - TALAT - MEETING

Talat called the new President to congratulate him on his election victory, Turkish Cypriot media reported tonight. During the telephone conversation, they agreed to meet and talked about their forthcoming meeting.

No information has been given so far regarding the date or the place of the meeting.

[03] US - CHRISTOFIAS ELECTION

In a statement on Sunday, Bryza said ``we congratulate President-elect Christofias on his election and the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus on a free and fair election.``

``We look forward to working with President-elect Cristofias` new government, once it is sworn in, to deepen our bilateral relations and pursue a comprehensive Cyprus settlement that reunifies the island into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation,`` he concluded.

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