Turkish President sees Cyprus crisis as chance to end division

           
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday the financial crisis in Cyprus presented an "important opportunity" to end the division of the island, split between the Greek Cypriot south and Turkish north since 1974.             

"(The crisis) should be seen as an important opportunity ... because if the island is to unite there would be a greater economic potential. And if you add the potential for cooperation with Turkey and Greece, that would be even greater," Gul said during an official visit to Lithuania.             

As he swore in the new Finance Minister, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades warned of "difficult days ahead" for an island struggling to recover from a near financial meltdown.
                    
Anastasiades said that the coming stage requires cooperation and fiscal discipline pointing out that these measures are set to contribute in promoting the economy.       

On Tuesday, Cypriot Finance Minister Michalis Sarris resigned after an investigation was ordered into how the country's economy nearly collapsed last month. 

Cyprus has been given a €10 billion bailout by its European partners and the International Monetary Fund, after its bloated banking sector threatened to destroy the economy.


LBCI/REUTERS