19.4.2010 Dr. Dervish Eroglu is the New President of North Cyprus
Dervis Eroglu has beaten the present serving president Mehmet Ali Talat in the presidential election. Eroglu, is a member of the National Unity Party who wants independence for the north of Cyprus got over 50 percent of the votes. Eroglu opposes reunification of the Turkish Cypriot northern part of the island with the Greek south and says he wants a two-state solution, which the Greek Cypriots oppose. Talat, who favours reunification and has been in office since 2005 has been having unification talks, sponsored by the United Nations with the Greek Cypriots since 2008. Talats defeat has now led to concerns the talks could fall apart, which would hurt Turkeys chances to join the European Union. However Eroglu has stated “ no one must think that I will walk away from the negotiating table. The talks process will continue, I will work with goodwill for a solution that takes my communitys rights into account”. Talat told reporters “ my dream to reach a solution is still there, but this is the beginnning of a new era”.
