The hardline winner of Sunday's Turkish Cypriot leadership election says he's ready to resume talks aimed at ending Cyprus' 46-year ethnic division, as long as rival Greek Cypriots come to grips with Turkey's might.
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Ersin Tatar, who favours fully aligning Turkish Cypriot policies with those of regional patron Turkey, says any peace accord should take into account the "realities" in and around the war-divided east Mediterranean island.
Tatar spoke after defeating leftist incumbent Mustafa Akinci in a run-off.
"It won't be difficult to reach a settlement at the negotiating table if our friends the Greeks and Greek Cypriots properly analyse the strategic, economic and social balances in our region," Tatar told supporters during a victory speech in the Turkish Cypriot half of the Cypriot capital Nicosia.
"They should know that if they continue these intransigent attitudes, we won't give up our rights."
Tatar also urged the European Union and United Nations to be "fair" and change tack on how to assist negotiations because their previous approach has failed.
"You will no longer ignore the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people," he said.
Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece.
Only Turkey recognises a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north that is economically and militarily dependent on Ankara.
The island's internationally recognised government has its seat in the Greek Cypriot south and is part of the 27-nation European Union.
Tatar, a 60-year-old scion of Turkish Cypriot political leaders, beat Akinci in a contest beset by accusations of "unprecedented" meddling by Turkey in a bid to round up votes for the challenger.
Turkish Cypriot broadcaster BRT says with 100 per cent of votes counted, Tatar secured 51.74 per cent of the vote compared to 48.26 per cent for Akinci.
Akinci, 72, a champion of Turkish Cypriots who oppose Turkey's domination of their affairs and a backer of a federal deal with Greek Cypriots, conceded defeat and congratuled his opponent.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took to Twitter to congratulate Tatar.
"Turkey will continue to make all necessary efforts to defend the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people," he said.
Nearly five decades of UN-facilitated attempts at achieving Cypriot reunification based on a federal framework have failed.
Australian Associated Press
