Cyprus Today, February 25-March 3, 2006
An article in the Washington Times quoted US State De¬partment officials as saying they were “laying the foundation” for the renewal of trade relations and saw the easing of the isolation of North Cyprus as the best way to reunify the island.
But State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli, con¬firming the story, made it clear that this did not mean a change to US policy of not recognising North Cyprus.
Mr Ereli said: “The point here is there are contacts and there should be contacts.
“And there should be trade and movement of people and goods between the world and the northern part of Cyprus — that's something which is important and good for the people of the northern part of Cyprus.
“But it does not imply a change in the recognition of the status of that part of Cyprus or in a deviation from our support for the Annan plan and for a negotiated solution to this con¬flict on the basis of that plan.
"There is no change in US policy regarding contacts with the northern part of Cyprus or recognition of entities in Cyprus so we're working to expand contacts." |
