DPA wrote:Ousted Cyprus president says will not support runoff candidates
Posted : Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:09:00 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Europe (World)
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Athens/Nicosia - Newly ousted Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said on Tuesday that he will not support either of the two candidates in upcoming runoff elections Sunday on the divided Mediterranean island. "Respectful of each person's free will, I do not wish to influence, either directly or indirectly, their decision in this election contest," Papadopoulos said.
Papadopoulos narrowly lost out in Sunday's presidential elections to former foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides, 59, and Demetris Chrisofias, 61, head of the AKEL (progressive party of the working people) communist party.
Both Kasoulides and Chrisofias met with Papadopoulos in the hopes of gaining support for the February 24 runoff.
Although from different sides of the political spectrum, the two candidates have both said they want to quickly relaunch negotiations to unite the island with the Turkish Cypriots for fear of permanent partition.....
The ongoing conflict has been a thorn in relations between NATO allies Greece and Turkey and has served as an obstacle to Turkey's efforts to join the European Union.
Is this yet more to worry about?
Why would he choose to not give them the benefit of his experience?
Is he just too appalled at their stances?