Obama talks to Erdogan about Cyprus

According to a press release issued by the White House, "the President thanked the Prime Minister for his constructive role in the effort on Cyprus to renew negotiations for a settlement”.

The press release also says that US President and Turkish Prime Minister discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues. 

A fresh round of talks began on February 11, 2014, when Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, agreed on a seven-point Joint Declaration outlining their vision of a reunited Cyprus.

In the meantime, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades pledged that he will make persistent and strenuous efforts to secure that the new round of UN-led talks will reunify the island, divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

"We are making persistent and strenuous efforts to secure that the new round of talks will lead us to a solution that would reunify our country and will create the conditions for peaceful and secure coexistence for the legal citizens of our country," Anastasiades said, addressing the inauguration of a community hall in Athienou.

He added the aim of the efforts is to achieve a solution that would evolve the Republic of Cyprus to "a bi-zonal bi-communal federation entrenching the human rights and would respect the sensitivities and the specificities of all its citizens."

Referring to the economy, the President "we are going through challenging times and it is well known that we are facing a deep financial crisis, despite the notable improvement we achieve since last March."

"I want to believe that with will and tenacity that characterize us we will achieve what we have achieved before, the great miracle of reconstruction, restart and the creation of the conditions that enable us to live just like the past," Anastasiades concluded.