Nuland’s visit is proof of US interest in Cyprus negotiations, Kasoulides says

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland’s visit to Cyprus is proof of US interest in resuming negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus issue, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said on Wednesday.

Asked whether Nuland’s visit could mobilise changes to take the Cyprus issue negotiations out of a dead end, Kasoulides said he was interpreting it as an expression of interest on part of the US.

In the context of the crisis in Ukraine, he said, “the Cyprus issue cannot be cast to the sidelines of these fundamental changes taking place in Europe’s security architecture”.

“This is suggested by the fact that bilateral relations [with the republic of Cyprus] are not the subject of Ms Nuland’s visit,” he explained, “as she will be meeting with both President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar”.

“We are looking to further strengthen our bilateral relationships with Europe and to emphasise our unified support for Ukraine by coordinating our response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion,” the US State Department said about Nuland’s visit.

After her meeting with Kasoulides later Wednesday, Nuland is set to meet the Ukrainian ambassador in Nicosia, and then later attend a dinner hosted by the president.

Asked how the general developments of the war in Ukraine affect Cyprus’ stance towards Russia, Kasoulides stressed that Cyprus “should and must agree with the partners of the European Union, where decisions are taken unanimously. We believe that we did not have the right to take any action which would prevent our partners from making decisions”.