Boost for Cyprus unity efforts after communist election win

International efforts to reunify Cyprus received a boost after communist party chief Demetris Christofias was elected president vowing to renew contacts with the rival Turkish Cypriots.
"I offer a hand of friendship and cooperation to the Turkish Cypriots and their leadership. I urge them to work together with us for the common good of the people in a climate of peace," the Greek Cypriot told a victory rally late on Sunday.
The Russian-educated Christofias, who will be the only communist head of state in the European Union, was victorious in a second round run-off against conservative MEP and former foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides.
After his jubilant supporters partied the night away, the 61-year-old builder's son was due on Monday to start negotiations to form his government and was expected to be sworn in before parliament later in the week.
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, head of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, called Christofias to congratulate him shortly after his win and the two have agreed to meet, a Talat aide told AFP.
"We foresee a productive cooperation for the benefit of the two communities for a viable and just solution to the problem," Christofias said.
He had pledged during the election campaign to renew contacts with the Turkish Cypriots after negotiations stalled under incumbent President Tassos Papadopoulos, who was booted out by voters in a first round on February 17.
Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since Turkish troops invaded in 1974 following a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at union with Greece. A UN peacekeeping force has been deployed on the island since communal unrest first broke out in 1963-4.
The international community hoped for a revival of peace efforts post-Papadopoulos, who led Greek Cypriots in voting down a UN reunification plan that was overwhelmingly endorsed by Turkish Cypriots in referendums in April 2004.
One month later a divided island joined the European Union, and the failure of peace efforts has been a key stumbling block in Turkey's own efforts to join the bloc.
The United Nations said that Christofias had asked it to organise a meeting with Talat.