Nicosia: The US position on the Cyprus issue is clear and unwavering, as stated by the new US Ambassador to Cyprus, John Breslow, during the presentation of his credentials to President Nikos Christodoulides.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides welcomed Ambassador Breslow by highlighting the importance of his role at a pivotal moment for Cyprus-US relations. The President expressed eagerness to work closely with Breslow to enhance the strategic partnership between the two nations, emphasizing areas such as political dialogue, security and defense, energy, trade, and education.
President Christodoulides acknowledged Cyprus as a dependable partner in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region of strategic significance for both countries. He highlighted the advancements made over the past three years in security, defense, energy, and law enforcement cooperation. The President also underscored the contributions of US companies in developing Cyprus' offshore energy resources and mentioned the Cyprus-Greece-Israel-US 3+1 partnership as a crucial platform for regional energy security.
President Christodoulides plans to visit the US to further attract investments and strengthen business partnerships, building on previous successful engagements with major US companies. The President also praised the CYCLOPS training center in Larnaca as a regional initiative providing specialized training to participants from numerous countries.
Ambassador Breslow, emphasizing his commitment to delivering tangible results, noted the shared vision for stability and prosperity between Cyprus and the US. He praised Cyprus for its role in evacuating US citizens from crisis zones and expressed hopes for further cooperation in areas such as energy security and countering malign influences.
On the Cyprus issue, Breslow reiterated the US's steadfast support for a Cypriot-led, UN-facilitated effort to reunify the island under a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality. He affirmed that the US stands ready to assist Cyprus in achieving this goal.
Cyprus has faced division since 1974 following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, a resolution remains elusive, with the last attempt in 2017 at Crans-Montana ending without agreement.
