The pro-European Cypriot Communist party AKEL have won a closely-fought election just in time to lead the island into the European Union. But Greece and Turkey have become involved in a war of words over the implication of today's result.
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With more than 90 percent of the votes counted AKEL was leading with just under 35 percent, ahead of the right-wing Democratic Party (Disy) with 34.1 percent. Both AKEL and Disy want Cyprus to join the EU.
In a jubilant street celebration in the capital, Nicosia, AKEL claimed victory even before half the votes were counted. Disy bitterly congratulated their old rivals, even though, as its leader said, just over one percentage point separated them.
A key responsibility of the 56-member parliament in the coming months will be to pass legislation necessary for Cyprus' accession to the EU.
Both the communists and Disy are considered pro-European and have moderate views on how to resolve the long-running division of Cyprus between Greek-Cypriots in the south, covering two-thirds of the island, and Turkish-Cypriots in the north.
With AKEL a firm supporter of rapprochement with the Turkish Cypriots, its general-secretary Mr Demetris Christofias made a point of referring to them as compatriots in his first address after declaring victory.
"This result increases our responsibilities in the struggle to reunite our country and our people, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, he said.
The reaction to today's result indicated the deep differences that exist between Greece and Turkey on the issue of Cyprus' accession to the EU.
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Turkish Prime Minister Mr Bulent Ecevit
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Greece said it was confident that the new Cypriot parliament would continue the Mediterranean island's drive for membership of the European Union.
"We are certain the new parliament in Cyprus will continue...to help the country's common effort, which is the entry into the European Union," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mr Panos Beglitis told reporters.
They haverepeatedly said that Cyprus' entry to the EU must not depend on a resolution of the long-running division of the island between the Greek-Cypriot south and the Turkish-Cypriot north.
However, Turkish Prime Minister Mr Bulent Ecevit said the admission of Cyprus into the European Union without a 'permanent solution' to the island's division would have very negative consequences.
Turkey is the only country which recognises the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Cyprus Republic is one of the leading candidates to join the EU in the next wave of expansion.
The east Mediterranean island has been divided between Turkish and Greek communities since Turkey invaded the north in 1974 in reaction to an Athens-backed Greek-Cypriot military coup.