Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides concluded his contacts in Washington yesterday, in the framework of his working visit to the United States.
During his three-day stay in the American capital, Mr. Kasoulides had a series of contacts and meetings with senior officials of the US administration, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
On Tuesday, February 1, the Foreign Minister met with his US counterpart Antony Blinken at the US Department of State, while in the afternoon of the same day he was received by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mrs. Nancy Pelosi.
On Wednesday, February 2nd, Mr. Kasoulides met with the Director for Europe of the National Security Council, Ms. Amanda Sloat, followed by contacts with the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Robert Menendez. He then met with a delegation from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks. In the afternoon, the Minister held talks with Ms Victoria Nuland, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. On Thursday morning, 3 February, Mr. Kasoulides met with Mr. Amos Hochstein, Counselor for Energy Security at the US Department of State.
Mr. Kasoulides' contacts focused, inter alia, on the upgraded bilateral cooperation between Cyprus and the United States in a wide range of areas, which in recent years has acquired a strategic character. Practical ways to further deepen bilateral relations in specific areas such as research and technology, security, accounting support and personnel training were discussed.
In addition to bilateral relations, Mr. Kasoulides had the opportunity to brief his interlocutors on how our side perceives the next steps in the Cyprus problem and in particular the creation of a good climate, an element necessary for the resumption of a new effort to resolve the Cyprus problem. In this context, the Foreign Minister had the opportunity to convey and explain the President's proposal for the implementation of specific Confidence Building Measures aimed at restoring confidence between the two sides. His interlocutors expressed their support for the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed solution model, in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions.
In addition, Mr.Kasoulides exchanged views with his interlocutors on the multilateral cooperation schemes that Cyprus maintains with countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region, in particular on the 3+1 scheme (Cyprus - Greece - Israel - USA). The need to strengthen its political orientation was noted, so that there are tangible political deliverables. In addition, Mr. Kasoulides exchanged views on energy issues, where the importance of promoting projects that ensure a sustainable and green perspective, such as the Eurasia Interconnector, and promote the spirit of cooperation with countries in the region was noted. Kasoulides discussed with his interlocutors the security situation in Eastern Europe as well as political and other developments in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region and the wider Middle East. During his stay in Washington, Mr. Kasoulides attended a dinner hosted in his honor by representatives of Cypriot and Greek community organizations, whom he briefed on the results of his contacts.
Finally, the Foreign Minister attended a working breakfast in the presence of representatives of American think tanks based in Washington, D.C., whom he had the opportunity to brief on the main goals and objectives of our foreign policy.
The Foreign Minister returns to Cyprus on the afternoon of Friday, February 4.
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