Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-02-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - Presidential elections - Final Results 100%

[02] Papadopoulos renews pledge for solution, seeks Clerides' help

[03] Presidential elections - Final results for Nicosia

[04] Papadopoulos elected President from first round - BIOGRAPHY

[05] Presidential elections - Final results for Paphos

[06] Presidential elections - Final results for Limassol

[07] DISI leader intends to strike off five party members

[08] Presidential elections - Final results for Famagusta

[09] Markides sees need for renewal of political life in election result

[10] Koutsou receives lower than anticipated share of the vote

[11] Simitis congratulates Papadopoulos

[01] Cyprus - Presidential elections - Final Results 100%

2100:CYPPRESS:29

Cyprus - Presidential elections – Final Results 100%

Nicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- Democratic Party leader, Tassos Papadopoulos, was elected President of the Republic here Sunday, from the first round of the elections, securing 51.51 percent of the vote over outgoing President Glafcos Clerides, who secured 38.80 percent.

Papadopoulos’s victory was realised with 213,353 votes while Clerides garnered 160,724 votes.

Alecos Markides came third with 27,404 votes or 6.62 percent while New Horizons leader, Nicos Koutsou, received 8,771 votes or 2.12 percent.

The results are as follows:

Registered voters: 476.758
Votes cast:        431,690   -   90.55%
Abstention:         45,068   -   89.20%
Valid:             414,193   -   95.95%
Void:               11,850   -    2.75%
Blank:               5,647   -    1.31%

CANDIDATES
-----------
TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS   213,353     51.51%
GLAFCOS CLERIDES      160,724     38.80%
ALECOS MARKIDES        27,404      6.62%
NICOS KOUTSOU           8,771      2.12%
COSTAS KYRIACOU         1,840      0.44%
ANDREAS EFSTRATIOU        606      0.15%
ADAMOS KATSANTONIS        558      0.13%
CHRISTOS IOSIFIDES        391      0.09%
GEORGE MAVROGENIS         337      0.08%

[02] Papadopoulos renews pledge for solution, seeks Clerides' help

2105:CYPPRESS:30

Papadopoulos renews pledge for solution, seeks Clerides' help

Nicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- President elect Democratic Party leader Tassos Papadopoulos said here tonight that he would engage in substantive negotiations to prove to the international community that his commitment to finding a political settlement remains firm.

Papadopoulos, speaking on the telephone with President Glafcos Clerides who rang to congratulate him on his election victory, sought Clerides' expertise, abilities, connections and knowledge in the task ahead.

Addressing himself to Turkish Cypriots, the Democratic Party leader said he looks forward to a just and viable solution for the benefit of both communities with respect to each side's rights, history and traditions.

''The people of Cyprus have decided for a change and have given me a mandate for a society that is united. I would like to express my gratitude for the trust the people have shown in me,'' Papadopoulos said.

He said his contract with the people for a society of equality without discrimination and without prejudice, a society that would observe meritocracy will be observed.

''I would like to send a special message to our Turkish Cypriots compatriots and say that I look forward to a just and lasting settlement to the benefit of all in a spirit of equality with respect to the rights, the history and the traditions and the political self-sufficiency of each of the two communities in the context of the UN peace plan, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has put forward,'' Papadopoulos said.

He said he will expect to see Annan in Cyprus towards the end of the month, as announced by the UN, in the hope that the Secretary General will be able to break the current deadlock in the ongoing UN-led peace negotiations.

''We are absolutely ready for substantive negotiations which are needed to be faithful and prove to the international community as well that our commitment to a solution remains firm and unfaltering,'' he said.

President elect said he would make every effort to see, if possible, a reunited Cyprus join the European Union and increase the benefits that full accession would bring to Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots alike.

He said he would make more statements tomorrow.

[03] Presidential elections - Final results for Nicosia

2110:CYPPRESS:31

Presidential elections – Final results for Nicosia

Nicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- The final results for the Nicosia district are:

Registered voters: 197,999
Votes cast:        175,045  -   88.41%
Abstention:         22,954  -   10.51%
Valid:             168,320  -   96.16%
Void:                4,600  -    2.63%
Blank:               2,125  -    1.21%

CANDIDATES
---------------------
TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS    83,812   49.79%
GLAFCOS CLERIDES       65,564   38.95%
ALECOS MARKIDES        13,344    7.93%
NICOS KOUTSOU           4,118    2.45%
COSTAS KYRIACOU           752    0.45%
CHRISTOS IOSIFIDES        183    0.11%
ADAMOS KATSANTONIS        161    0.10%
GEORGE MAVROGENIS         143    0.08%
PANTELIS SOFOCLEOUS       125    0.07%

[04] Papadopoulos elected President from first round - BIOGRAPHY

2115:CYPPRESS:32

Papadopoulos elected President from first round - BIOGRAPHY

Nicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- One of the most experienced politicians on the island, Tassos Papadopoulos, takes over the long-standing Cyprus problem and will take the island towards full accession to the European Union.

He won today's Presidential elections with the support of the centre-right Democratic Party he heads, the leftwing AKEL, the Social Democrats (KISOS) and the Ecologists Environmentalists Movement.

Tassos Papadopoulos was born in Nicosia in 1934. He studied law in London and he actively participated in the EOKA liberation struggle 1955-1959 against the British colonial rule.

He was one of the four representatives of the Greek Cypriot side in the Constitutional Committee which drafted the Republic's constitution.

He served for 12 years as Minister of Interior, Minister of Finance, Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Minister of Health and Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

He was an adviser to the first interlocutor in the bicommunal talks and became interlocutor in 1976.

He served as Member of the House of Representatives from 1970 and re-elected in 1976 and President of the House from April until October 1976. In 1991 he was elected deputy for the Democratic Party, and was re-elected in 1996.

[05] Presidential elections - Final results for Paphos

2130:CYPPRESS:33

Presidential elections – Final results for Paphos

Nicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- The final results for the Paphos district are:

Registered voters:   41,822
Votes cast:          37,683    -   90.10%
Abstention:           4,139    -    9.90%
Valid:               35,933    -   95.36%
Void:                 1,197    -    3.18%
Blank:                  553    -    1.47%

CANDIDATES
---------------------
TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS   21,020   58.50%
GLAFCOS CLERIDES      11,133   30.98%
ALECOS MARKIDES        2,404    6.69%
NICOS KOUTSOU            711    1.98%
ANDREAS EFSTRATIOU       176    0.49%
COSTAS KYRIACOU          183    0.11%
ADAMOS KATSANTONIS        49    0.14%
GEORGE MAVROGENIS         38    0.11%
CHRISTOS IOSIFIDES        30    0.08%

[06] Presidential elections - Final results for Limassol

2130:CYPPRESS:34

Presidential elections – Final results for Limassol

Nicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- The final results for the Limassol district are:

Registered voters:    134.041
Votes cast:           122,779    -   91.60%
Abstention:            11,262    -    8.40%
Valid:                117,688    -   95.85%
Void:                   3,419    -    2.78%
Blank:                  1,672    -    1.36%

CANDIDATES
---------------------
TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS     62,145   52.80%
GLAFCOS CLERIDES        45,548   38.70%
ALECOS MARKIDES          6,791    5.77%
NICOS KOUTSOU            2,243    1.91%
COSTAS KYRIACOU            575    0.49%
ANDREAS EFSTRATIOU         104    0.09%
GEORGE MAVROGENIS          102    0.09%
ADAMOS KATSANTONIS          86    0.07%
CHRISTOS IOSIFIDES          54    0.05%

[07] DISI leader intends to strike off five party members

2135:CYPPRESS:35

DISY leader intends to strike off five party members

Nicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- Nicos Anastasiades, leader of the Democratic Rally party (DISI), announced tonight his decision to propose to the party organs tomorrow that five DISI members are struck off.

All five of them openly backed the candidacy of Alecos Markides, former DISI general secretary, who ran in the elections opposite incumbent President Glafcos Clerides, founder of DISI and the party's choice at these elections.

Speaking after Clerides conceded defeat in today's presidential elections, to Tassos Papadopoulos, Anastasiades congratulated the president elect and chastised the three DISI deputies and two other members of the party political bureau, who went against party decisions to support Clerides' candidacy.

Papadopoulos won 51.51% of the vote, and Clerides got 38.80 per cent.

In his first reaction after the election outcome was announced, Anastasiades said he will propose that the party parliamentary spokesman Demetris Silouris, and MPs Prodromos Prodromou and Rikos Erotokritou and bureau members Eleni Vrahimi and Sofoklis Hadjiyiannis are struck off.

[08] Presidential elections - Final results for Famagusta

2150:CYPPRESS:36

Presidential elections – Final results for Famagusta

Nicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- The final results for the Famagusta district are:

Registered voters:    25,433
Votes cast:           23,605    -   92.81%
Abstention:            1,828    -    7.19%
Valid:                22,613    -   95.98%
Void:                    677    -    2.87%
Blank:                   315    -    1.33%

CANDIDATES
---------------------
GLAFCOS CLERIDES      10,894   48.18%
TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS    9,697   42.88%
ALECOS MARKIDES        1,282    5.67%
NICOS KOUTSOU            410    1.81%
ADAMOS KATSANTONIS       179    0.79%
COSTAS KYRIACOU          116    0.51%
GEORGE MAVROGENIS         15    0.07%
CHRISTOS IOSEFIDESS       11    0.05%
PANTELIS SOFOCLEOUS        5    0.02%

[09] Markides sees need for renewal of political life in election result

2200:CYPPRESS:37

Markides sees need for renewal of political life in election result

Nicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- Alecos Markides, one of ten presidential candidates in today's elections, contesting the presidency as an independent, said the share of the vote he got testifies to the need for a renewal of political life.

Markides, who got 6.62 per cent of the vote, far lower than the opinion polls gave him, called on those who persuaded incumbent President Glafcos Clerides to seek re-election to understand their responsibilities and undertake the cost of their actions.

''We did not get the percentage we had expected but we must note that this is the first time that an independent candidacy stood up to the parties and got that much share of the vote,'' Markides said.

Today's election was won by Democratic Party (DIKO) party leader Tassos Papadopoulos with 51.51 per cent of the vote, Clerides got 38.80 per cent.

Asked what he would do in the period ahead, he said that tomorrow members of the movement that backed his candidacy will meet to examine the situation, adding that he will work with his associates for a political settlement in Cyprus that would guarantee the security, the peaceful coexistence and the conclusion of Cyprus' accession to the European Union.

Markides said that he would be at the disposal of the president-elect for anything that he may need.

Markides said he would wait and see if the political bureau of the Democratic Rally party (DISI), to which he belonged before assuming the post of Attorney General some years ago, will expel five members, three deputies and two bureau members, from its ranks because they backed his candidacy, instead of following the party line.

[10] Koutsou receives lower than anticipated share of the vote

2230:CYPPRESS:38

Koutsou receives lower than anticipated share of the vote

Nicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- Nicos Koutsou, president of the New Horizons party and one of ten presidential candidates in today's contest, said he did not get the result he wanted but said the people's will is respected.

He congratulated president-elect Tassos Papadopoulos, leader of the Democratic Party (DIKO), who got 51.51 per cent of the vote, and said it was now up to him to work collectively. Koutsou promised to stand by Papadopoulos and continue fighting with him.

''The Cyprus question should be solved in the next few years, perhaps months and this is why we need crystal clear positions and decisions,'' Koutsou said.

He said thousands of people who professed their opposition to a UN peace plan, now under discussion between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides, decided today to give their seal of approval, judging by the outcome of the vote.

Koutsou opposed the plan saying that it renders Cyprus a protectorate of Turkey and does not comply fully with the acquis communautaire.

[11] Simitis congratulates Papadopoulos

2235:CYPPRESS:39

Simitis congratulates Papadopoulos

Brussels, Feb 16 (CNA) -- Greek Prime Minister and European Council President, Costas Simitis, congratulated president-elect Tassos Papadopoulos Sunday from Brussels and pledged to meet him the soonest.

Speaking to journalists, Simitis publicly congratulated Papadopoulos noting he is very suitable to lead the people of Cyprus at this stage. Simitis is in Brussels where on Monday he will chair a meeting, which will focus on developments in Iraq and the Middle East.

Papadopoulos is a politician who has closely monitored all developments in the Cyprus problem. He has great experience and knowledge of the situation. Therefore he is very suitable to lead the people of Cyprus at this stage and I am certain our relationship will be very good, just like it was with the Cypriot leadership so far, the Greek premier said.

Asked whether Papadopoulos election might bring a change to the Cyprus position regarding the national issue, Simitis replied that he has talked with Papadopoulos on several occasions about the Cyprus problem. He is a pragmatist, who handles all situations calmly, he said.

Simitis added that every leader has his own distinctiveness, adding, I do not believe there will be any modifications on the direction and substance of the Cyprus positions, he added.

Referring to outgoing President Glafcos Clerides, Simitis said he would like to acknowledge his work, adding he has managed to change the facts on the Cyprus problem and successfully led efforts for the islands accession to the European Union.

With his negotiating abilities and persistence, he paved the way which I believe the new leadership will make full use of, he added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of the islands territory.

UN-led efforts to solve the Cyprus problem will culminate with the arrival on 26 February of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a last ditch effort to find a comprehensive settlement based on Annans revised plan.

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