New Cyprus Ambassador to the US Presented his Credentials to President Obama

At a formal ceremony that was held yesterday at the Whitehouse, Mr Pavlos Anastasiades presented his credentials to the President of the United States of America Mr Barak Obama, as the new Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the USA.

In his written address, the Ambassador referred to the excellent bilateral relations between Cyprus and the United States of America on a wide spectrum of sectors and the importance of strengthening and further enlarging cooperation between the two countries on the bilateral level, as well as on regional and international issues. In this framework the Ambassador underlined the commitment of Cyprus to the preservation and promotion of mutual democratic principles and values, stressing that Cyprus will continue to constitute a trustworthy partner in this effort.

Regarding the Cyprus problem Mr Anastasiades reiterated the President of the Republic’s commitment to achieving a solution on the basis of the United Nations Security Council resolutions and the High Level Agreements, which provide for a solution of bizonal, bicommunal federation, with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality. He also stressed that the process of the direct negotiations must remain under Cypriot ownership and without the imposition of timeframes or arbitration and underlined that the President of the Republic demonstrated again, with the set of proposals he recently submitted, his good will and his resoluteness in speeding up the process of the solution of the Cyprus problem, in the framework of the direct negotiations. He also pointed out the very important role of Turkey and called on the United States of America to exercise their influence on it, so that a solution can be achieved, the soonest possible, which is mutually beneficial and serves the best interests of all.

In his written reply, President Obama referred to the historic, as he described them, bonds between the USA and Cyprus, and expressed the wish to work for the enlargement and enhancement of the two countries’ bilateral relations and for the promotion of the common values that govern them. He stated at the same time that the arrival of the new Ambassador coincides with the “special milestone” of the 50 year anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus and 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and the USA. Also referring to the multi-faceted cooperation between the USA and Cyprus, the US President described the Republic of Cyprus as “valued partner” of the USA on a plethora of issues.

With regard to the Cyprus issue, President Obama expressed the United States’ support for the Cyprus ownership, as he called them, negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus, noting that the island’s division has lasted for too long. In this framework, the US President praised the President of the Republic for his courageous and resolute efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem and expressed the wish for the achievement of a just and viable solution, which will reunite the island on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation.