FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Embassy
July 29, 2004

The United States and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus complete the first round of talks on the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)

A United States team has just concluded a successful meeting with the Government of  the Republic of Cyprus to discuss measures the two countries can take in support of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).  The talks have progressed very smoothly, and we are pleased that our two governments have a common approach to a common goal: making the high seas inhospitable to the transport of weapons of mass destruction. We expect that this progress will continue.

The successful conclusion of the first round of talks marks an example of active cooperation by our two governments on a specific aspect of the Proliferation Security Initiative: the prevention of transportation by sea of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials.  Given the record of close cooperation between our two governments in the war on terrorism, we are confident that there will be other areas of cooperation as well.

[End of release.]

Visit the State Department Web Page on the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)