Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryza fielded a variety of questions from the large contingent of print and television media from both communities present at the briefing

Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew J. Bryza held a press conference on June 30, 2009 at the J.W. Fulbright Center in the UN Buffer Zone after meetings with President Demetris Christofias and Turkish-Cypriot Leader Mehmet Ali Talat, as well as UN officials and other leaders from both the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities. Mr. Bryza reiterated that the primary focus of the U.S. in Cyprus is to support the negotiations between the two parties with the goal of reaching a settlement that reunifies the island into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

Following his opening remarks, Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryza fielded a variety of questions from the large contingent of print and television media from both communities present at the briefing. Mr. Bryza noted that the U.S. is happy to do anything it can to support the United Nations in its efforts to help the parties keep moving forward, but ultimately, it is up to the people of Cyprus and their leadership to devise a just and lasting solution.

Mr. Bryza also noted that now, with two pro-settlement leaders in both communities and strong interest from the international community, there is a special opportunity in Cyprus that will hopefully translate into reunification of the island.