Cypriot President Demetris Christofias on Wednesday voiced steadfast support for the Palestinian cause and a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, the semi-official Cyprus News Agency reported.

"We believe that a creative dialogue on the basis of the principles agreed on by both sides will soon resume," Christofias said when meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday for a two-day official visit.

The dialogue will "put an end to the sufferings of the Palestinian people and will finally resolve the Middle East issue peacefully," Christofias said.

He said Cyprus always supported the Palestinian people's struggle to "restore their rights and create an independent state within the framework of a two-state solution, an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."

Abbas expressed his appreciation for Cyprus' consistent and firm support to the Palestinian cause.

Abbas also welcomed the recent decision of Cyprus to establish a diplomatic office in Ramallah. He said it would strengthen relations between the two sides.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2009)