Pro-EU premier wins Turkish Cypriot vote

[UrbScotty]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-cyprus-elections,0,3956852.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

NICOSIA, Cyprus -- Turkish Cypriots frustrated by decades of international isolation and a stagnant economy elected pro-European Union candidate Mehmet Ali Talat president of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state Sunday, according to official results.

With votes from 96 percent of the 577 ballot boxes tallied, Talat received 55 percent, while rival Dervis Eroglu received 23 percent. Because Talat garnered more than 50 percent of the vote, there will not be a runoff election.

The voting was to replace Rauf Denktash, the hard-liner who, for decades, opposed efforts to unite the war-divided island. Eroglu is largely regarded as favoring Denktash's hard-line stance.

Talat wants to start new reunification talks with Greek Cypriots so the Turkish-occupied north will not be excluded from benefits of the island's membership in the EU.

[Stella_Artois]

1. Why do they rush to join the EU

According to the CIA its only got 15 years left

*snicker*

[Massacure]

2. 15 years is better than less than 3 and a half.

[Wilms]

3. Great news for Turkey.

Now all they need is a Pro-Turkey EU.

:eyes: