30/03/2016 13:45
The US State Department has said it is encouraged by the progress that leaders on both sides in Cyprus have made in recent months in the UN-led peace talks.
State Department Spokesman John Kirby, during the daily briefing on Tuesday, said the US continue to support efforts by the parties to reach a settlement.
Invited to evaluate the status of the talks and remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu about good news from Cyprus when the President of Cyprus says the talks are in a stalemate due to the stance of the Turkish President, Kirby replied “we are encouraged by the progress that leaders on both sides in Cyprus have made in recent months”.
“We continue to support efforts by the parties to reach a settlement, to reunify the island as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, which would benefit all Cypriots as well as the wider region”, he added.
The US fully supports the UN-facilitated process under the UN special advisor, Kirby remarked, adding “we are willing to assist that process in any way that the parties would find useful. And as I said, as you know, the Secretary visited, as well as the Vice President”.
Real progress has been made between both sides, he said, adding “we want to encourage that because we still believe in the end state”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island`s northern third. UN led talks resumed in May last year aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof.
State Department Spokesman John Kirby, during the daily briefing on Tuesday, said the US continue to support efforts by the parties to reach a settlement.
Invited to evaluate the status of the talks and remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu about good news from Cyprus when the President of Cyprus says the talks are in a stalemate due to the stance of the Turkish President, Kirby replied “we are encouraged by the progress that leaders on both sides in Cyprus have made in recent months”.
“We continue to support efforts by the parties to reach a settlement, to reunify the island as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, which would benefit all Cypriots as well as the wider region”, he added.
The US fully supports the UN-facilitated process under the UN special advisor, Kirby remarked, adding “we are willing to assist that process in any way that the parties would find useful. And as I said, as you know, the Secretary visited, as well as the Vice President”.
Real progress has been made between both sides, he said, adding “we want to encourage that because we still believe in the end state”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island`s northern third. UN led talks resumed in May last year aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof.
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