Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou Meets With US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

WASHINGTON, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Markos Kyprianou, had a bilateral meeting on Friday, March 26, 2010, with his US counterpart, Hillary Clinton, at the State Department.

The meeting was positive and constructive and showed the commitment of both governments to reinforce their bilateral relations and to upgrade their close cooperation and coordination on a variety of issues. They also discussed the Cyprus Question and exchanged views on global matters of mutual interest and concern.

The Foreign Minister briefed Secretary Clinton on the current status of the direct talks between President Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriots Mr. Talat. He reiterated President Christofias’ commitment to achieving a solution, which would be a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Minister Kyprianou also referred to the recent letter that the President of the Republic sent to President Obama concerning the fenced-off area of the occupied city of Famagusta, noting that the United States’ assistance to achieve forward movement on this issue is important.

Minister Kyprianou stressed that Ankara continues to hold the key to the solution of the problem and underlined its responsibilities to this end. The Minister urged the US Administration to impress upon Turkey the need for it to be constructive in the current negotiations process and to actively support the solution.

Secretary Clinton reaffirmed US support for the ongoing Cypriot-led negotiations under UN auspices to reach a just and lasting settlement that reunifies Cyprus in a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Secretary Clinton also highlighted the bilateral relations between the United States and Cyprus, acknowledging the growth that has been achieved in the last two years in various sectors of this relationship, noting the importance that the United States attaches to the further enhancement and deepening of these relations.

Earlier in the week, Minister Kyprianou spoke at an event at the Council on Foreign Relations. The video of the event can be viewed here: http://www.cfr.org/publication/21738/cyprus.html

The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, due to the Turkish invasion and on-going military occupation of 36.2% of its territory. A series of resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and General Assembly, reflect the universal condemnation of Turkey’s invasion and all subsequent acts of aggression against Cyprus. Turkey has ignored these resolutions and continues to occupy the island. Moreover, Turkey has yet to abide by judgments of the European Court of Human Rights for violating the fundamental rights of the Cypriots such as the right to life, liberty, security and the right to the protection of property and the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment – all of which are enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.

This press release is being distributed by Qorvis Communications on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC.

SOURCE Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office