WASHINGTON, May 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that he was hoping for a visit to Cyprus in the next weeks to help to promote the restarted peace talks on the Mediterranean island.
Prior to his meeting with visiting Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides at the State Department, the top American envoy spoke of ongoing efforts to bring a "long sought-after resolution" to the division in the country.
"It's my hope to be in Nicosia and perhaps in Athens somewhere in the next weeks, if not early months," Kerry told reporters, adding "We've been talking about a visit for some time. We want to try to be helpful in this process."
U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden will travel to Cyprus later this month to advance peace there at the invitation of President Nicos Anastasiades, as negotiations resumed in February after a hiatus of nearly two years.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 after a Turkish intervention which followed a coup by Greek army officers.
Kasoulides thanked the United States for its support, saying his country needs the "assistance and interest" of the international community as the circumstances "are appropriate to push in order to find a settlement."（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑） |