November 9, 2001

Following a luncheon hosted by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Glafcos Clerides in New York for the five Permament Members of the Security Council, the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, Ambassador John Negroponte made the following statement to the press:

“We had a very good meeting, of course the Cyprus situation is one of great interest to the United States. We have a Special Coordinator for that issue, Ambassador Tom Weston, and we are very supportive of efforts to resolve the question but it must be done under the relevant UN resolutions.” 

Responding to a question concerning the likelihood of a face-to-face meeting between President Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Denktash, Ambassador Negorponte stated:

“Well I think that’s something you will have to discuss with your President directly. I certainly wouldn’t want to comment on that. But what I can say is that we are supportive of efforts to reach a satisfactory solution to the Cyprus question, but under the auspices of the United Nations and under the auspices of the relevant Security Council resolutions.”

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