By Michele Kambas and Simon Bahceli
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Greek Cypriots voted on Sunday tochoose between a communist and right-wing candidate in a tightpresidential race crucial to fresh peace talks on thewar-divided island and to Turkey's EU accession hopes.
Half a million Greek Cypriots choose between Communistparty leader Demetris Christofias, 62, and Ioannis Kassoulides,59. Both have pledged to try to break a deadlock inreunification talks with estranged Turkish Cypriots but differon the process.
"What is at stake here is nothing short of a settlement,"said James Ker-Lindsay, a Cyprus analyst at Kingston Universityin London.
The conflict is a festering wound in relations between NATOallies Greece and Turkey. Ankara's European Union talks havebeen partly suspended because of the stalemate on Cyprus andthere will be a new review in 2009.
Negotiations froze under President Tassos Papadopoulos, whohad rejected a U.N. peace blueprint in 2004. His surpriseelimination in the first round of voting February 17, raisedhopes of ending the conflict.
His party is backing Christofias, who has secured morepolitical support than his rival, and would make history as theisland's first communist president if elected.
"I extend a message of friendship to Turkish Cypriots, toreunite our country and to be masters of our own fate, withoutforeign interference," Christofias said after casting his votein the capital Nicosia.
DIFFERENT APPROACH
Christofias favours a more structured approach to freshtalks through the United Nations, while Kassoulides said hewill contact Turkish Cypriots directly if elected.
"I voted for Christofias because ... he will help resolvethe Cyprus issue, he has good relations with Turkish Cypriots,"said Nicosia housewife Yiota Georgiou, 43.
Christofias says he will not tamper with the island's freemarket economy. His AKEL party may still boast busts of Leninand red flags at its headquarters but it also owns a number oflarge lucrative businesses on the island.
Kassoulides, a former foreign minister backed by the rightwing camp, has tried to project a pro-European image.
"People will decide whether to move forward, throughEurope, and focus on ridding ourselves of the (Turkish)invasion and occupation," he said after voting at a Nicosiaschool.
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.
Although his party had initially tilted in favour of theU.N. plan in 2004, Soviet-educated Christofias backedPapadopoulos's rejection of it.
Kassoulides and his own right-wing Democratic Rally hadbeen in favour of the plan drafted during their term in power,as had Turkish Cypriots.
"I voted for Kassoulides because our country needs achange," said teacher Cleopatra Pentari, 35. "I hope that talksstart and a solution is found with Kassoulides."
Polls opened at 5:00 a.m. British time and close at 3:00p.m. British time, with final results expected by 5:30 p.m.British time.
(Additional reporting by Stelios Orphanides, writing byDina Kyriakidou; editing by Sami Aboudi)
