Cyprus keeps close watch on Greece after SYRIZA's electoral victory

The Cypriot government said on Monday that it will be keeping a close watch on developments of the bailed-out Greece following leftist SYRIZA party's electoral victory on Sunday.

SYRIZA party achieved a sweeping victory on promises by its charismatic leader Alexis Tsipras that he will scrap the country's strict austerity program.

Commenting on Tsipras' promise, Cypriot government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said "the government will be following very closely developments in Greece."

But Christodoulides made it quite clear that Cyprus would not act in unison with the Greek government in dealing with international lenders.

However, he said that the government is looking forward to a visit in Cyprus by Tsipras in his capacity as new prime minister to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Greece and Cyprus are tied together by close ethnic relations. Greek Cypriots make up about 80 percent of the island's population. Turkish Cypriots and several thousand mainland settlers make up the rest of the population. Endi