US diplomat visits Cyprus to boost settlement efforts

Daniel Fried, US deputy secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia, yesterday arrived on Cyprus to lend support to efforts to reach a settlement on the long-divided island. Speaking at a press conference in Lefkosha's buffer zone after separate talks with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Hristofias, as well as Taye Brook-Zerihoun, the UN's Cyprus special representative and Peace Forces (UNFICYP) mission chief, Fried said that the US wants to see one nation, one citizenship and a unified state on the island. He added that Washington hopes leaders from both sides will soon begin comprehensive talks towards that aim.