The commitment of the United States to finding a just and lasting settlement reunifying Cyprus, as a bizonal, bicommunal federation, is reaffirmed in a cover note, accompanying a report by U.S. President Barack Obama, prepared by the State Department, to the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.
Obama’s bi-monthly report covers developments in the Cyprus problem during the months April and May 2016.
In the cover note, State Department Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Julia Frifield notes that UN-facilitated efforts towards a comprehensive solution continued in this reporting period, during which “the leaders and negotiators continued to make progress in settlement talks.”
“The United States is committed to finding a just and lasting settlement reunifying Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation,” she says.
In his report, Obama says “the UN Secretary-General’s Good Offices Mission continued efforts to support the reunification of Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation in April and May 2016” and that “Republic of Cyprus President and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci formally met twice in April and once in May.”
The report points out that “On May 15, Anastasiades and Akinci issued a joint statement marking the one-year anniversary since they resumed settlement talks in 20I5. In their statement, the leaders underlined their commitment to intensify their efforts in the months ahead with the aim of reaching a comprehensive settlement agreement within 2016. On the anniversary, U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Doherty commended the leaders’ progress and assured that “the United States will continue to offer our support in any way we can while maintaining, as we always have, that Cyprus’ collective future will be determined by Cypriots, for Cypriots,” it says.
Source: CNA
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
