Cyprus President Demetris Christofias, seen here in November, says he is standing down as leader of the communist party AKEL to focus fully on talks to reunite the long-divided east Mediterranean island. [Photo: AFP]
Cyprus President Demetris Christofias announced on Saturday his resignation as the leader of the left-wing AKEL party to devote himself to the ongoing peace talks aimed at reunifying the divided Mediterranean island.
At a party congress, an emotional Christofias tried to hold back tears as he reviewed the past two decades during which he led the former communist party.
Christofias, who became the secretary-general of Akel in 1988, was elected as the president of Cyprus Republic earlier this year.
As the Greek Cypriot leader for the reunification talks, Christofias said he was not satisfied with the progress made so far.
"Although we are at the initial stage of the process, and it would be premature to reach any secure conclusions, we can not state that we are satisfied with the course of the negotiations, at the extent we would have desired to be," he told the congress.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 when the Turkish military intervened and occupied north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers.
In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot authorities declared the establishment of the breakaway "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which is recognized only by Turkey.
After years of deadlock, Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, both considered pro-settlement leaders, launched substantive talks in September for the reunification of the island in a bi-zonal, bi-communal, federal structure.
However, gaps between the two communities on some thorny issues need to be narrowed through more efforts and compromises. Among them are power-sharing, property arrangement and security guarantees.
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