Cyprus FM discusses Cyprus issue with the Secretary of State

 USA support the efforts for a solution in Cyprus, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has assured Cyprus Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou during a half an hour meeting they hold yesterday in Prague, on the sidelines of the EU-USA Summit.

Speaking after the meeting, Kyprianou said: “We talked mainly about the Cyprus problem. The USA expressed support to the ongoing process (of direct negotiation), and to the aim of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in Cyprus”, he said.

Kyprianou briefed Clinton about the latest developments in the direct negotiation process, the difficulties of the process, and the expectation from Turkey, which “has a crucial role to play”.

According to an official announcement, Kyprianou and Clinton have agreed to find a date for a new meeting in Washington, in order to continue the discussion.

“We found out that there are many other basic issues to discuss, like the bilateral relations between USA and Cyprus and issues that Cyprus can play a positive role as an EU member state, such as the Middle East problem”, he added.

Cyprus Foreign Minister finally stated that during the meeting with Clinton he had the opportunity to refer to the Greek and Greek Cypriot community living in the USA. This community is an important link between Cyprus and the US, and is looking for a close relation and cooperation between the Cyprus and the US government, Kyprianou concluded.

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September last year, with a view to reach a settlement of the question of Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974.