Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
Ioannis Kasoulides, Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister
Washington, D.C.
Thomas Jefferson Room
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. It’s a great pleasure to welcome Foreign Minister Kasoulides here to the State Department – familiar territory. The foreign minister is just recently on the job, but for the third time. I can’t even begin to imagine (inaudible). (Laughter.)
But we’re so, so pleased to have you and especially so pleased by the relationship between the United States and Cyprus. I think the bilateral relationship is stronger than it’s ever been. We’re seeing cooperation in a whole variety of areas, to include security but also to include science and technology. It really runs the gamut. We remain resolutely in support of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, and we will continue to work in that direction. And I have to say we were pleased by the renewal of the mandate at the United Nations just a week ago.
But we have a lot to talk about, and I think it’s really a reflection of the fact that on so many different levels this relationship has gotten broader but also deeper. And it’s wonderful to have you here, Mr. Minister.
FOREIGN MINISTER KASOULIDES: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. And it is my intention to use this meeting to find and explore areas – to find and explore areas where we can make the relationship even stronger and even deeper.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: I welcome that. Thank you. Thank you, everyone.
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides today in Washington, D.C. Secretary Blinken congratulated Foreign Minister Kasoulides on his return to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reiterated the U.S. commitment to deepening cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus, including through the 3+1 mechanism with Greece and Israel. The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues, including the importance of coordinating actions in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also underscored the importance of increasing scientific collaboration on issues such as climate change and emerging technology through the upcoming signing of a bilateral Science and Technology Agreement.
The Secretary expressed continued U.S. support to Cypriot-led, UN-facilitated efforts to reunify the island as a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality to benefit all Cypriots.
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