Diplomacy: Cyprus aims to take US relationship to another level with Trump meeting

Nicosia seeks a meeting between Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and US President Donald Trump to underscore the blossoming strong relationship between the two countries.

The visit to upgrade bilateral relations was at the centre of discussions between Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale in Washington.

"We discussed bilateral issues, as double taxation avoidance and the abolition of visas for Cypriots who visit the US. Moreover, we discussed the need to arrange a meeting between the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the US President Donald Trump," Christodoulides said afterwards.

He said Cyprus was playing an important role in the Eastern Mediterranean and argued it was positive for Nicosia’s bilateral relations with the US.

Among other issues discussed with Hale was the lifting of the US arms embargo on Cyprus and the trilateral cooperation schemes which Cyprus and Greece have established with countries of the East Med region.

On energy issues, Christodouldies underlined the importance of the construction of an EastMed gas pipeline and averting any Turkish action that would disrupt energy plans in the region.