FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Embassy
November 30, 2005

U.S. EMBASSY STATEMENT ON THE OPENING OF LEDRA STREET

In his recent statements, President Papadopoulos has implied that the United States -- alone among permanent members of the Security Council -- has refused to condemn construction activities near the proposed Ledra Street crossing as an encroachment of the buffer zone. That statement is misleading. It is UNFICYP, rather than the United States or other Security Council member states, which has the authority to determine whether either side has encroached on the buffer zone or otherwise violated the terms of the cease fire. We support UNFICYP in its authority to administer the buffer zone and underscore the importance of maintaining UN leadership on the Cyprus issue.