CYPRUS: The Cyprus government spokesman has expressed the hope that the result of Sunday's Turkish Cypriot parliamentary poll will contribute to the reunification of the divided island.
The pro-settlement Republican Turkish Party, headed by Mehmet Ali Talat, won 25 of the 50 seats in the Turkish Cypriot assembly, seven more than in the out-going legislature.
Although Mr Talat called the outcome a "victory for those in the Turkish Cypriot community who want peace", he remains short of a majority, making it necessary for him to form another coalition. He has led a minority coalition since last June.
Mr Talat could recruit the Peace and Democracy Movement of Mustafa Akinci, with one seat, to form a narrow government, but concern has been expressed that such a coalition would have too small a margin to take the hard decisions necessary to achieve a negotiated solution with the Greek Cypriots, who demand major revisions to the reunification plan put forward by the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan.
His former partner, Mr Serdar Denktash, chairman of the Democratic Party, with six seats, expressed willingness to enter a new coalition.
However, Mr Denktash, son of veteran Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash, does not support the Annan plan, which remains the sole framework for a settlement.
The anti-reunification Nat-ional Unity Party of Dervis Eroglu won 18 seats, the same as in the 2003 poll, prompting him to describe his party's performance as a "failure". This grouping enjoys the backing of the rejectionist camp, comprising Mr Rauf Denktash and the Turkish politico-military establishment, which is committed to the maintenance of the status quo.