The United States congratulates Mustafa Akinci on his election as Turkish Cypriot leader and looks forward to working with him, a press release issued by the US Embassy in Cyprus has said.
“We welcome Mr. Akinci’s April 26 statement that he is ready to move forward with UN-facilitated talks to reunite Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation,” the press release added, noting that ” 2015 can be a year of `significant and lasting progress` toward a Cyprus settlement, as Secretary Kerry recently stated.”
“We encourage all parties to work closely with the UN Special Advisor on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide to resume talks in an intensified and results-oriented manner, based on the February 2014 joint declaration,” the press release concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades suspended his participation in the peace talks aiming to reunite the island, following a Navigational Telex or NAVTEX, issued by Turkey in October last year, as Turkish seismic research vessel “Barbaros” violated the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The Turkish NAVTEX, that was renewed in January 2015, expired on April 6 and Barbaros left Cyprus` EEZ.
UNSG Special Adviser for Cyprus Espen Barth Eide announced on April 7 that UN-backed talks are expected to resume within weeks following the election in the occupied areas of the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community.
A readout release by the UN peace keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) public information office on Sunday, after Akinci`s election, said that Eide will be in Cyprus between May 4 – 8 to continue preparations for the resumption of peace talks.
