Hardliners sweep to victory in Turk Cypriot vote

NICOSIA, (Reuters) – Turkish Cypriot hardliners  swept to victory in parliamentary elections in northern Cyprus   yesterday in a result that could hamper peace talks with Greek  Cypriots essential to Turkey’s EU membership ambitions.

The two sides launched peace talks in 2008 aimed at   creating a state based on the two zones — Turkish and Greek —  that have existed since a 1974 Turkish invasion.

With 100 percent percent of the vote in, the right wing  National Unity Party (UBP) clinched 44.06 percent of the vote,  giving it by provisional accounts an outright majority in the 50  seat parliament. It was a stinging defeat for the ruling  Republican Turkish Party (CTP), a key ally of Turkish Cypriot  leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

The CTP, which bore the brunt of public discontent over a  faltering economy and continued international isolation of the  breakaway territory, took 29.25 percent of the vote.

The UBP advocates an outright two-state settlement on  Cyprus, at odds with the federal model now being discussed by   Talat and Greek Cypriot leader, President Demetris Christofias.

Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 after a short-lived coup by  militant Greek Cypriots seeking union with Greece.

The Greek Cypriots represent Cyprus in the European Union  and say they will block Turkey’s admission to the EU as long as  the island remains divided. Turkey is currently in entry  negotiations, but there is strong resistance to Ankara’s entry  among several member-states.

Just under 162,000 people voted in the parliamentary  elections in Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey.

Talat will retain his leadership of the territory, but his  room for manoeuvre is likely to be limited by a parliament now  dominated by the UBP.

The basis of the current talks is reuniting the island as a  bizonal federation. The UBP says it wants a rethink of the  process.