Cyprus and the U.S. Monday set the timetable for the beginning of their Strategic Dialogue.
The news was announced in Washington following a meeting between Cypriot Foreign Minister and U.S. State Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
As part of this dialogue, annual meetings will be held between high-level delegations from both countries in Nicosia and Washington, D.C.
The first round of consultations within the framework of the Strategic Dialogue is expected to take place in Nicosia in September between senior delegations from the two countries.
The Strategic Dialogue serves as a tool for the U.S. to engage with friendly countries with which it maintains regular sectoral cooperation in strategic areas of mutual interest.
To date, the US has established a Strategic Dialogue with 30 countries, 13 of which are EU member states.
Cyprus’s inclusion in this category of countries strengthens its position as a close partner of the US.
Benefits for Cyprus:
- Strengthening political, economic, social, and cultural ties between the two nations.
- Enhancing Cyprus-U.S. collaboration in critical areas such as security and energy.
- Highlighting and solidifying Cyprus’s stabilising role in the region.
- Opening up new prospects for American investments in Cyprus.
- Boosting trade with the U.S., promoting Cypriot products in the American market.
- Creating opportunities for young Cypriots.
- Developing significant cooperation possibilities in research and technology.
- A step forward towards Cyprus’s inclusion in the U.S’. Visa Waiver Programme. This programme will allow Cypriot citizens to travel to the U.S. for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a type “B” visa, as is currently the case.
Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania are the only EU member states that do not participate in the Visa Waiver Programme.
“This is an important moment in the relationship between the United States and Cyprus,” said Secretary Blinken.
“We will be announcing and initiating a strategic dialogue between our countries. The first will take place this Fall in Cyprus. I think it’s very powerful evidence of the strengthening, the deepening, the broadening of the relationship between our countries, acting together in so many different areas”, Secretary Blinken said.
The top US diplomat also referred to the maritime corridor for the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza as a typical example of the upgrading of U.S.-Cyprus relations.
“The maritime corridor in Gaza is a prominent example. But if you look at what we’re doing in terms of trade, in terms of science and technology, in terms of security, in terms of education, in terms of people-to-people ties, you see a partnership, a relationship that’s growing stronger, that’s growing deeper”, he pointed out.
Secretary Blinken said that this is a reflection of the fact that Cyprus is an important player in the region and a partner for the United States “that we deeply value”.
Kombos in his statements said that “this is a very important day for our two countries”.
He went on to say that Cyprus and the US are moving forward to create “a dialogue that is going to be intensive, and that’s for the benefit of our people of our two countries”.
“We share common foundation – our core values; our respect, commitment to democracy, to the rule of law; our opposition to aggression and to revisionism. And upon those we stand together, whether that’s in Ukraine or in relation to other places where we have such incidents,” Cyprus’s Foreign Minister said.
Kombos said that Cyprus is a credible, predictable partner for the US at a very complicated region.
“The message is very simple: Cyprus is part of the solution. Cyprus is part of the answer. It is through this lens that five decades of occupation of Cyprus by Turkey should be approached. And on that, we count on the support of the United States”, he noted.
Κοινές Δηλώσεις με τον Υπουργό Εξωτερικών των ΗΠΑ @SecBlinken πριν τη συνάντησή μας σήμερα στην Ουάσιγκτον.
— Constantinos Kombos (@ckombos) June 17, 2024
🔗 https://t.co/tA83fm98x8 pic.twitter.com/TXykgAnMnW
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