VOA常速英语2008年-Cyprus President-Elect Wants to Resume Unificat

By Nathan Morley
Nicosia
25 February 2008

After winning the presidential elections in Cyprus, communist-leader Demetris Christofias says he will try to restart unification talks on the divided island. Nathan Morley reports for VOA from Nicosia.

Demetris Christofias was proclaimed president elect of Cyprus late Sunday, having won the runoff presidential election with more than 50 percent of the vote.

Thousands of his supporters rallied to the center of Nicosia waving party flags and banners as they celebrated¹ the election victory

Speaking to the crowd, Christofias said he would fight for a just settlement of the 34-year old division of Cyprus.

There is no doubt that this election has re-juvenated hopes of peace in Cyprus.

Christofias has strong ties with many Turkish Cypriot unions and politicians and has actually crossed the diving line to the Turkish occupied areas on several occasions.

But the change in leadership has not convinced everyone that there will be change. There are mixed feelings on the streets of Nicosia.

A man said he does not think anything will really change, there will just be a change in the presidential palace.

But a pensioner² said he hopes for a better time ahead with the election of Christofias, perhaps a solution to Cyprus' problems.

In a rare positive sign, Turkish-Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat told the media he is hopeful of progress on the Cyprus problem now that Christofias has been elected. He added that a U.N. mission would be visiting Cyprus next month to assess the situation.

In an e-mail to Christofias, EU Commission President Jose Barroso wrote, "Your election offers the opportunity to overcome the long-standing stalemate on the Cyprus issue and I would strongly encourage you to grasp this chance and without delay start negotiations³."

There are many sensitive issues for the new president to tackle, including property rights, those displaced after the 1974 Turkish invasion and the presence of more than 40,000 Turkish troops in northern Cyprus.

Cyprus's division is a thorn in Turkey's bid to join the European Union and it is thought Ankara is eager for a resumption of talks between the two communities in Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the north in response to a military coup⁴ on the island which was backed by the Athens government.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 pensioner   

n.领养老金的人

参考例句：

• The tax threshold for a single pensioner is$ 445.单身领退休年金者的纳税起点为445英镑。
• It was the pensioner's vote late in the day that influenced the election of Mr.Sweet.最后是领取养老金者的选票影响了斯威特先生的当选。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。