"There are no losers in this election. This is a joint victory for all of us."
In the presidential elections in the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the leader of the opposition Republican Turkish Party (RTP), Tufan Erhürman, won with 62.76% of the votes cast.
The current head of state, Ersin Tatar, who is supported by Turkey and advocates for the division of Cyprus into two states, received 35.81% of the votes.
"There are no losers in this election. This is a joint victory for all of us – Turkish Cypriots. I will carry out my duties, especially in foreign policy, in close contact with the Republic of Turkey, so there is no reason for concern," the winner stated. He also mentioned his intention to resume negotiations for the reunification of the island.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti, KKTC, sometimes also referred to as Northern Cyprus, Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs) is a partially recognized state occupying the northern third of the island of Cyprus, which is located within the Republic of Cyprus. It is recognized only by Turkey and heavily depends on its economic, political, and military support. Turkey deploys its troops in Northern Cyprus with the support of the TRNC; the Republic of Cyprus and the UN consider it an occupying force. The Republic is a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Organization of Turkic States as an observer.
The population of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is about 294,906 people living in an area of 3,355 km² (including the small exclave of Kokkina). The overwhelming majority of the population are ethnic Turks, representing two communities: local Turkish Cypriots (about half) and Anatolian Turks, migrants from Turkey. There are also remnants of Greek Cypriots and Lebanese Maronites who have remained in their enclaves. The capital of the TRNC is the city of Lefkoşa (actually the northern part of Nicosia, divided between the Republic of Cyprus and the TRNC).
The TRNC is separated from the rest of Cyprus by a buffer zone. The line dividing the island into two sectors (the so-called "Green Line") is guarded by a contingent of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
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