Papadopoulos defeat raises hope of Cyprus talks

By Michele Kambas

NICOSIA (Reuters) - Hardline Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos's weekend electoral defeat raised prospects on Monday of ending a four-decade division that has on occasion brought NATO partners Greece and Turkey to the brink of war.

Papadopoulos, 74, was unexpectedly voted out in the first round of a presidential election on Sunday, opening the February 24 runoff to two candidates seeking swift resumption of reunification talks -- a move that could help European Union aspirant Turkey's relations with Brussels.

"A historic era has officially ended... with Papadopoulos the last of the Mohicans," wrote the Greek Cypriot Simerini newspaper in a front-page editorial.

His defeat came four years after breakaway Turkish northern Cyprus had its own 'change of generation', with veteran leader Rauf Denktash bowing out. The two had been old rivals, educated in London during British colonial rule over Cyprus.

Putting aside months of acrimony, rightwinger Ioannis Kassoulides and communist Demetris Christofias, competitors at the runoff, sought Papadopoulos's support on Monday; but he gave no sign to his Democratic Party of rooting for either.

"It was his desire to let the Democratic Party take the decision on its own," said Kassoulides after meeting Papadopoulos. "I am leaving his office as a friend."

Diplomats, expected to push for relaunch of stalled peace talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, said a change of guard could help end gridlock hampering Turkish EU accession hopes.

"There was a vote for candidates more proactive about a solution," a western diplomat in Nicosia told Reuters. "I would assume that the United Nations would see this as a positive sign, that there is the wish and the will there for a solution."