Greek Cypriot president rules out second term if Cyprus issue remains unresolved

Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias has said he would not run for the second term if the did not manage to reach progress in a dispute with the Turkish Cypriots over the island by the end of his term in 2013.

Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias has said he would not run for the second term if the did not manage to reach progress in a dispute with the Turkish Cypriots over the island by the end of his term in 2013.

"This would be my first and last term if I would not succeed in resolving the Cyprus issue," the president said during a news conference marking the end of his second year in office.

Christofias's statement came after Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat's announcement in early March that he would run for the second term.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the north in response to a military coup on the island that was backed by Athens. The Turkish Cypriot state is recognized only by Turkey.

Christofias and Talat started reunification talks, which had been stalled for four years, in 2008. However, the talks have so far yielded no significant results.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Cyprus in late January-early February in an attempt to help the two parties to find a solution to the long-lasting conflict.

ATHENS, March 19 (RIA Novosti)