By Michele Kambas
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Greek-Cypriots elect a new president onSunday, with both candidates in the EU state saying they wantto relaunch talks with breakaway Turkish-Cypriots to unite thedivided island.
Communist leader Demetris Christofias, 62, and right-wingbacked Ioannis Kassoulides, 59, are in a runoff after thedefeat of incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos, who opposed a U.N.plan in 2004 to reunify the Mediterranean island.
Cyprus has been split since 1974 between the Greek-Cypriotsouth, seat of the EU-recognised government, and theTurkish-Cypriot north, which is recognised only by Turkey.
It was divided when Turkey invaded the north after a briefcoup inspired by the military then ruling Greece. Around 30,000Turkish troops remain there.
Christofias and Kassoulides both say they want to restartre-unification talks with the Turkish-Cypriots but they differon the process.
Reunification is also important for Turkey's efforts toenter the EU, with the Greek-Cypriot government saying it couldblock Turkish membership for as long as the island is divided.
Soviet-educated, Christofias believes strongly in Cypriot,rather than ethnic identities. He says he wants resumption oftalks with Turkish Cypriots through a U.N. process.
"I don't think Mr. Kassoulides or I have the magic formulato break the deadlock," Christofias said in a televised debateon Friday. "But I have the goodwill to move forward to try tofind a settlement. It's an absolute necessity."
Kassoulides, a former foreign minister who says he hasbetter EU connections, favours a more direct approach withTurkish Cypriots.
"I will seek a meeting with (Turkish Cypriot leader) MehmetAli Talat on Monday afternoon if I am elected," he said.
U.N. PLAN
Reunification talks have been stalled since Papadopoulosled Greek Cypriots in rejecting a U.N. plan in 2004 and Cyprusthen entered the EU represented only by the Greek Cypriotsouth.
Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of the U.N. plan.
Christofias is better placed to win Sunday's vote, with thesupport of his powerful communist AKEL party and Papadopoulos'sDemocratic Party.
He would be the only communist EU head of state and he hassought to reassure business leaders that he will leave the freemarket alone, but he says he wants to create an administrationwhich is better on welfare and has a "humane face".
The campaign has been noted for its text messaging wars.
One doctored photo shows Christofias dressed as Batman,grasping a red flag and the old Soviet hammer and sickleemblazoned across his torso.
Polls open at 0500 GMT and close at 1500 GMT for some516,000 Greek Cypriot voters. Final results are expected by1730 GMT.
(Editing by Stephen Weeks)
