Athens hopes for "more constructive" stance from Turkish Cypriots

ATHENES, Feb 21 (AFP) - Greece said Monday it hoped for a "more constructive" stance from Turkish Cypriots in breakaway northern Cyprus after the election victory of prime minister Mehmet Ali Talat.
"We hope the procedure will contribute towards the Turkish Cypriots taking a more constructive stance about a settlement in Cyprus," Greek deputy government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said when asked about the vote.
Greece, which does not recognize the self-styled Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), had refused to make any comment in advance of the election.
Talat backed a last-ditch UN plan to end the island's 30-year division -- which failed in a referendum last April when the majority of Greek Cypriots voted it down even though the Turkish Cypriots rallied behind it.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island following a Greek Cypriot coup seeking to unite the island with Greece.

02/21/2005 15:11 GMT - AFP