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U.S. pledges support for fresh settlement talks in Cyprus

Xinhua, May 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

The White House on Tuesday pledged support for fresh talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities in Cyprus, calling for a settlement "as soon as possible."

National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan reaffirmed U.S. "full support" for the UN-brokered peace process, offering to help "in any way the parties find useful."

The talks are set to resume on Friday between the leaders of the two communities after a hiatus of almost seven months.

Cyprus, an island nation in the Mediterranean, has been divided into Greek and Turkish Cypriot parts since 1974 after Turkey intervened following a coup by Greek army officers.

"We encourage the parties to reach a settlement as soon as possible to reunify the island as a bizonal, bicommunal federation, which would benefit all Cypriots as well as the wider region," Meehan said in a statement. Endite