BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Cyprus's president-elect Nicos Anastasiades says concluding a bailout agreement with international lenders is a top priority. His remarks come shortly after scoring a convincing victory in Sunday’s presidential run-off. Anastasiades triumphed with nearly 58 percent of the vote, beating Communist-backed rival Stavros Malas by around 15 percent.

In a speech to party members, Anastasiades says he will work to finalize as soon as possible a provisional bailout deal struck by the outgoing government but not yet signed. He says his aim is to re-negotiate some of its provisions which mostly affect vulnerable sections of the population and threaten social cohesion and industrial peace. Anastasiades also says he will work to have Europe on the side of Cyprus and promised he will strive to keep all commitments and obligations.

Cyprus needs an estimated 17.5 billion euros to recapitalize its banks and finance the government over the next few years. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has offered his support for overcoming Cyprus’s economic woes.

(Source: CNTV.cn)