FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Embassy
November 12, 2002

U.S. Ambassador Klosson on UN Submission of Plan to Cypriot Leaders

As noted in the November 11 statement by the State Department Spokesman, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus Michael Klosson reiterated that the United States strongly welcomes the initiative of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to present a proposal for a comprehensive settlement for Cyprus to the two Cypriot leaders as the basis for an agreement. 

The Ambassador stated that the United States fully supports this step and the ongoing efforts by the Secretary General, his Special Advisor Alvaro de Soto, and the Good Offices Mission to find a just and durable solution to the longstanding division of the island.  President Bush recently reiterated American support for the Good Offices Mission in a letter to Secretary General Anan.

The Ambassador said that he would like once more to reiterate that this most recent development makes it all the more clear that there is an historic opportunity to resolve the Cyprus issue.  “We urge the two sides to study the settlement proposal carefully, to provide their considered responses and to seize this opportunity to achieve a comprehensive settlement”, the Ambassador said.  “Time is short, and for this reason we encourage the parties to work urgently with the Secretary General to achieve a settlement before the European Union makes its decisions on EU enlargement in December.”