Cypriot Leaders Re-Start Talks

We welcome news of today’s positive meeting between Republic of Cyprus President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot Leader Talat. We are encouraged by the leaders’ agreement to rejuvenate working group meetings immediately, and to resume full-fledged negotiations in three months in pursuit of a comprehensive settlement that would reunify the island into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. We congratulate the leaders on their agreement to reopen, as soon as possible, the Ledra Street crossing in Nicosia after over forty years of closure. Such steps build requisite confidence between the parties to advance toward a comprehensive settlement.

The United States will continue its full support for this constructive dialogue, and for efforts by the United Nations to forge a just and lasting Cyprus settlement.