( dpa ) - The United States on Monday congratulated Cyprus' left-wing president-elect Dimitris Christofias on his victory and said it stood ready to help him bring a "just and lasting settlement" to the divided island.
Christofias was elected in a run-off vote Sunday against rival Ioannis Kasoulides. He leads Cyprus' Communist party but has promised not to implement drastic market reforms and called for new talks to break the deadlock in uniting the island.
Incumbent President Tassos Papadopoulos had already lost in the first round of presidential elections February 17, in a signal from Greek Cypriots that they were prepared for a fresh round of negotiations with the Turkish-held north.
"We look forward to working with president-elect Christofias to build upon our cooperation to fight terrorism, safeguard Cyprus cultural heritage and promote reconciliation and reunification of the island," the State Department's deputy spokesman Tom Casey said in a statement.
Casey said the US was prepared to work with both Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, as well as the European Union and United Nations to help break the impasse.
Turkey is the only country that recognizes northern Cyprus as a country. A UN-backed reunification plan was voted down by Greek Cypriots in 2004.
"The United States is committed to a comprehensive settlement that reunifies the island in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation acceptable to majorities in the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities," Casey said.