State Department: US pleased to play role in efforts for a Cyprus settlement

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley has said that “a very constructive dialogue is going on between Turkey and Greece, between the Turkish Cypriot community and the Greek Cypriot community, aided by the UN”, adding that “we are pleased to play a role in that”.

Crowley was asked whether he agrees with a statement made by US Αmbassador in Turkey according to whom ''Turkey is a peaceful country, it doesn't invade its neighbors and it has security concerns in Cyprus and not Iraq''.

Crowley said that “of course I agree with that statement”, while asked to say if he agrees that Turkey didn't invade Cyprus, he said: “Look, we are focused forward, we’re not focused backward.
There is a very constructive dialogue going on between, you know, Turkey and Greece, between the Turkish Cypriot community and the Greek Cypriot community, aided by the UN. We are pleased to play a role in that”, he added.

He went on to say that “we're focused on trying to bring this to a just conclusion. And I don't think there's any value in working back on the history of the last 35 years.”

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Peace talks began in September 2008 with a view to finding a negotiated settlement to reunite the country.