His election to the European Parliament this week was the first time that Greek and Turkish Cypriot voters have jointly lifted a candidate to an elected post. Running on the ticket of the communist -rooted AKEL party, he stood accused by right-wing Turkish Cypriot detractors of being a Greek Cypriot puppet aiming to undermine their breakaway state in the island’s north. Turkey doesn’t recognize Cyprus as a state and says it’s defending the rights of Turkish Cypriots to the island’s offshore hydrocarbon deposits. Turkey’s actions drive to the heart of Greek Cypriot fears of Turkish domination over the island. “I believe that, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, we do have common good and common interests,” he says.

Source: Washington Post May 31, 2019 16:07 UTC