U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus Frank C. Urbancic reviewed U.S. Policy on the Cyprus Problem and highlighted the foreign policy initiatives taken during first the 100 days of the Obama administration during a roundtable interview with leading journalists

U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus Frank C. Urbancic reviewed U.S. Policy on the Cyprus Problem and highlighted the foreign policy initiatives taken during the first 100 days of the Obama administration during a roundtable interview with leading journalists on April 29, 2009.

Ambassador Urbancic told the journalists that President Obama has taken decisive action to carry out his commitment to seek better relations throughout the world, repair alliances, and build partnerships to deal with global threats and concerns.

Within days of taking office, the Ambassador explained, President Obama signed executive orders closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center and banning torture, both evidence of a U.S. foreign policy vision that rejects the false choice between our American values and our security. At the G-20 summit, President Obama joined with world leaders to take action on the global financial crisis. Soon afterwards at the NATO and EU summits, the U.S. again partnered with its allies on a new strategy to address the serious challenges we face in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Under President Obama’s leadership, the U.S. has reset its relationship with Russia, sought engagement with Cuba and Iran, and begun the process of responsibly ending the war in Iraq.

Ambassador Urbancic reiterated President Obama’s willingness to offer all help sought by the parties as they work towards a just and lasting settlement that reunifies Cyprus into a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

The Ambassador also highlighted the recent travels of President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who are meeting with world leaders and ordinary citizens to listen to their concerns, learn from their perspectives, and seek out opportunities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

On the Cyprus problem, Ambassador Urbancic reiterated President Obama’s willingness to offer all help sought by the parties as they work towards a just and lasting settlement that reunifies Cyprus into a bizonal, bicommunal federation. In addition to expressing his confidence in the two leaders, President Demetris Christofias and Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat, the Ambassador also expressed how much the U.S. values its partnership with Cyprus, as demonstrated during the two recent meetings between Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou.