President Demetris Christofias of Cyprus

NICOSIA (AFP) Communist party head Demetris Christofias was sworn in as president of Cyprus on Thursday and said his government's top priority was resolving the island's 34-year division.

But in February, Christofias was elected president on a platform of reviving reunification talks which went nowhere under his hardline predecessor Tassos Papadopoulos.

Speaking to reporters later, Christofias said of the meeting: "I consider that we have taken another step forward.

Christofias is the General Secretary of AKEL and is Cyprus's first, and the European Union's first and so far only, communist head of state.

Dimitris Christofias was elected Member of the House of Representatives for the first time in 1991 and was re-elected in the subsequent parliamentary elections of 1996 and 2001.

Dimitris Christofias is married to Elsie (Chiratou) Christofias (1972) and they have three children – two daughters, Marianna and Christina, and a son, Christos.

Christofias and Kasoulidis participated in a second round on February 24 for which Christofias received the backing of Papadopoulos's party, DIKO.

Christofias was sworn in as President at a ceremony in the House of Representatives on February 28, 2008, vowing that "the solution of the Cyprus problem will be the top priority of my government.

Lothar Bisky, the Chairperson of the Party of the European Left, said in a message of congratulation: "The success of Dimitris Christofias is a hope for the working people in Cyprus and an important step towards a peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem.

Christofias is the European Union's only communist head of state, and Cyprus the only European country with a communist president besides ex-Soviet Moldova.

Christofias has sent a message of friendshipto 'ordinary Turkish Cypriots' Speaking at a victory rally on Sunday, Christofias: "We have a vision, we have a history of struggle and contactwith the people in our efforts to reunify our country without foreign troops.

Cyprus Parliament Speaker and General Secretary of the left-wing AKEL Demetris Christofias was elected the island state's new president in a runoff on Sunday.

With a common touch, Christofias has been very popular with the ordinary people.

Greek President Karolos Papoulias and visiting Cyprus President Demetris Christofias met in Athens on Wednesday, with the long-standing Cyprus issue expectedly dominating talks.

In a related development, Christofias also met with Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas, with both men citing their devotion to a common target for a viable and just solution to the Cyprus issue and the demolition of the last wall separating a city in Europe.

Christofias said he will do his best to persuade Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat that "only we, the Cypriots, share common interests and we will be called on at the end of the day to govern our country, removed from foreign interventions, occupation and illegal settlements.

The main opposition leader said that Greece should continuously highlight that the problem of Cyprus is the ongoing Turkish occupation and that "President Christofias has repeatedly expressed his will for a solution in the framework of United Nations resolutions and always in full respect of European values and acquis.

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias expressed hope on Monday that all remains of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons would be identified in 2009, noting that this was owed to the families of missing persons from both communities.

Speaking after a visit to the laboratory of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP), President Christofias said t.

Noting that Tassos Papadopoulos has devoted his whole life to matters concerning the society since he was young, President Christofias said that the former President took part in the national struggle of the people of Cyprus for independence and played a leading role in the Republics affairs, as Minister who served from various posts, as interlocutor and a very close collaborator of the late Archbishop Makarios III.

President Christofias expressed his condolences to the family and the people of Cyprus, noting that Tassos Papadopoulos will remain in history as one of the leaders of the modern history of our country.

Christofias supported the proposed federation during his campaign and said he had maintained contacts with the Turkish-Cypriot leadership since the referendum.

While Christofias has been at pains to persuade the business world that it has nothing to fear from his election, assuring that he was totally committed to a mixed economy and would not impose new taxes, his ideology remains a serious handicap," said the English-language daily Cyprus Mail.

Communist party leader Demetris Christofias has won Cyprus's presidential election, vowing to revive efforts to reunite the island.

Taking his turn after the Premier, the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias said the launch of negotiations is promising in a way, but also noted that the first few months of negotiations have not met their expectations.

The Talks are futile, pointless, a waste of time, these two can;t even discuss and agree on what to eat at a restuarant forget about the Cyprus issue.

CHRISTOFIAS is Worried - And he should be.

We are continuing the full-fledged negotiations but the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias is not actually continuing full-fledged negotiations` the President told a conference titled `Latest developments in Cyprus and Negotiation Process at the Izmir University of Economics.

PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias has not ruled out an offer by the Turkish Cypriot side that would see the opening of the Limnitis crossing in the northwest of the island in exchange for free access for Turkish Cypriots to the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Kokkina.

Responding, Christofias said yesterday that the government was considering the idea, but added that Talat was “speaking only half the truth.

Christofias has claimed that the crossing has not opened due to the stubbornness of the army.

AKEL candidate Demetris Christofias is the favourite to win the presidential elections on Sunday, bookmakers have said.

do not have real progress to report," the Greek Cypriot leader and Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said on Tuesday.

08Cyprus President Demetris Christofias has extended sincere wishes for the new year, saying he wants to see the country liberated, he hopes for rain and wishes good health to everybody.

Visiting Cyprus House President Demetris Christofias met with Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis in Athens on Wednesday, and immediately afterward with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who received him at noon.

Christofias is in Athens on an official visit, as a guest of the Greek Parliament.

Christofias said that he and Papandreou had also discussed ways of dealing with reactions in Turkey and other countries to Cyprus' accession.

not comment on press reports and that he was not representing Talat.

committees, President Christofias said ``we will meet with Mr.

positions and even by his reactions.

goal of Turkey regarding the Cyprus issue will be investigated.

President Christofias and the Russian President.

offenses and way of handling ``we have an agreement.

Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias has been warm to accepting a Turkish Cypriot offer for the opening of a crossing in Kokkina in exchange.

Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias said his government was considering a Turkish Cypriot proposal to open of the Limnitis crossing in.

Greek Cyprus President Demetris Christofias has resigned his post as leader of the communist-rooted Akel party to concentrate on talks to reunify.

As the Greek Cypriot leader for the reunification talks, Christofias said he was not satisfied with the progress made so far.

return encodeURIComponent('Communist Party leader Demestris Christofias was elected president, and agreed with the Turkish Cypriot president to meet at the earliest possible date.

Demetris Christofias was the first to break the tradition.

Christofias knows that it is impossible to convert the educational system to a humanistic base away from nationalism without falling in the opposite corners with the Church.

What is expected from Christofias is to put the ‘academically correct’ approach into application not just say them out loud.

Christofias was born on August 29th, 1946, in the village of Dhikomo, in the Kyrenia District in Cyprus's now Turkish-run north.

Christofias was first elected member of the House of Representatives in 1991 and won re-election in the subsequent parliamentary polls in 1996, 2001 and 2006.

Christofias supported Papadopoulos in his first bid for the presidency in 2003 and then in his campaign against a UN-sponsored plan to reunify the island in 2004.

I extend a hand of friendship to the Turkish Cypriot people and their leadership," Christofias said in his first post-election address before thousands of cheering supporters at the Eleftheria stadium, in Nicosia.

Christofias is fluent in Russian and English.

Cyprus backs Russia's initiative to conclude a new treaty on European security, visiting Cypriot President Demetris Christofias said here Wednesday following talks with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias is in Moscow this week where he will sign a total of seven agreements during a state visit described by the government as very important that will help further strengthen.

Communist party leader Demetris Christofias has won the presidential election in Cyprus, state television declared, a result likely to give a major boost to efforts to reunify the island.

We have a vision, we have a history of struggle and contact with the people in our efforts to reunify our country without foreign troops," Christofias said after casting his vote.

they voted for him or not, and will act as such.

into a working class family with progressive ideas.

and UN Security Council agreements as a starting point.