The Greek state and political leadership on Sunday congratulated speaker of the Cypriot house of representatives and leader of the left-wing AKEL party, Demetris Christofias, on his election as the new President of the Republic of Cyprus.
President of the Republic, Karolos Papoulias, congratulated Christofias on his election in a telephone call following the announcement of the election results in Cyprus.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis also congratulated Chrisofias on his election by telephone after the election results in Cyprus were finalized.

Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou also called Christofias to congratulate him, and he congratulated the "friend and comrade" in a statement issued later.

"His victory is a victory for a just society in Cyprus, for a just solution to the Cyprus issue. We are continuing the struggle for a solution to the Cyprus issue based on International Law, the UN Resolutions, and with respect for the EU acquis. A solution that will be founded on the will of the Cypriot people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike," Papandreou said in his message.

Papandreou further pledged that PASOK will support all the efforts of the people of Cyprus and its new President, adding that "we are optimistic, the Cyprus issue will once again be at the center of the international political scene".

"PASOK, and I, personally, as always, are at the side of the Cypriot people and the government of Cyprus," he concluded.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga also telephoned Christofias to congratulate him on his election, and wished him every success in his new, difficult duties.

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) leader Alexis Tsipras sent a message of congratulations to Christofias, in which he said that "your historical victory is a message of hope for the entire Cypriot people".

He said it was also a message of optimism for the forces of the Left in all of Europe.
"In a small country of the EU, the Left is changing the correlations and proving that nothing is impossible," Tsipras said.

On behalf of SYN, Tsipras wished Christofias success in the difficult task he was undertaking "to open roads for a just and viable solution of the Cyprus issue, to prove that an alternative Left governance is not only necessary but also feasible, in these difficult days".

Coalition of the Radical Left (the SYN-led parliamentary alliance SYRIZA) parliamentary group leader Alekos Alavanos also sent a message of congratulations to the newly-elected president of Cyprus.

In his message, Alavanos said that all of SYRIZA shared "the joy over today's great success".

"We believe that, in this great test for the Cypriot Left, to govern with an alternative platform and way and to put its seal on the resolution of the major problems such as the Cyprus issue and the reconciliation of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, you will respond with full success, thus giving momentum to the overall European Left endeavor," Alavanos said.

Source: Athens News Agency

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