October 30 in Washington
passed
meeting between US President Joe Biden and President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Christodoulides. The outgoing American leader (US presidential elections are scheduled for November 5) said that he remains optimistic about the possibility of resolving the Cyprus problem. The guest stated that it was a “great honor” for him to be invited to the White House.
The previous meeting of the presidents of the two states - Bill Clinton and Glafkos Clerides - took place on June 17, 1996.
— This year marks the 50th anniversary of the artificial division of the island. “I remember it well, it was my first year in the Senate,” Biden, 81, said, adding that Turkey’s invasion of the island was a “sad day” and a “sad event.” “I remain optimistic about the possibility of the reunification of Cyprus within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.
“I count on your support and the support of the United States in our efforts to resume negotiations to resolve the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal, federal solution,” responded 50-year-old Christodoulides.
According to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, relations between Cyprus and the United States are at a “historic high.” He emphasized the close cooperation between the two countries in matters of defense and security, energy, law enforcement, technology and innovation, clarifying that Cyprus is “truly a strategic partner” of the United States.
— 10 years have passed since my last visit to Cyprus as Vice President of the United States. There is no limit to what our countries can achieve together, we have been doing this for a long time. Today we stand against Russia's violent aggression in Ukraine, and we have opened dialogue and expanded our cooperation on issues ranging from energy to security to artificial intelligence,” Biden said.
Christodoulides reported “untapped potential” in relations between the two states and “a clear and strong political will from both countries” to further strengthen relations and deepen cooperation. According to him, this is evidenced by the beginning of a “strategic dialogue” between Washington and Nicosia.
Christodoulides added that at the regional level, Cyprus is a “predictable and reliable partner of the United States” in what he described as “a region of great geopolitical significance,” emphasizing that Cyprus is a member state of the European Union and a country that has “excellent relations with all its neighbors."
The President of the Republic of Cyprus said that a ceasefire in Lebanon "could be achieved within the next one to two weeks." He then recalled the Amalthea humanitarian corridor to the Gaza Strip and the evacuation of US and other citizens from crisis areas of the world, adding that in carrying out these tasks, Cyprus was on the “right side of history.”
“Cyprus made all this possible,” Biden stated with satisfaction.
The Cypriot publication Phileleftheros called the meeting in Washington historic.
Photo: Cyprus News Agency
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