Cyprus-Forum.com

[paliometoxo]

US Senator Joe Biden, running mate of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and an experienced diplomat, has called for the “full withdrawal” of Turkish troops from northern Cyprus in an interview published in yesterday’s Kathimerini.

Biden, chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee – who has referred to the Cyprus occupation as an “anomaly” – told Kathimerini that Washington’s relations with Ankara “will be influenced by how the Cyprus problem is solved, namely by the full withdrawal of Turkey, and from how Greek and Turkish differences in the Aegean are settled.”

Biden said the stance of Cyprus leaders – Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat – made him “more optimistic than ever” that a settlement will be agreed upon.

Obama’s running mate pledged Washington’s “constant and active support” for peace talks. “We have the opportunity, with the cooperation of Greece, to find a logical solution to Cyprus and end the occupation,” he said.

As for tactics for breaking the deadlock, Biden said negotiators should focus on existing common ground and build from there. “Part of diplomacy is determining which issues serve common interests and focusing on these to find a solution.”

A few months ago Biden had been even more outspoken on the Cyprus issue, remarking: “The only truly unresolved and unremitting injustice that exists in that whole area of the world is Cyprus. It is still there.”

Questioned about the Macedonia name dispute, Biden was less willing to put himself on the line. “(The dispute) is not something that we can influence,” he said, adding “I hope you can resolve it.”

[bill cobbett]

Roll on election time in November then.

[Viewpoint]

They will say anything for a few more Greek votes.

[Oracle]

Because Greeks matter .... 8)

Θ . Γ . Δ 

[dinos]

US democrats have been pleging support for ending the CyProb for years. I'd have to say that Viewpoint's post is strikingly (albeit unfortunately) accurate.

[Oracle]

Haven't they just announced the strictly Catholic / Evangelist Palin's unmarried 17 year old daughter is due her second baby?

Neo Con?



(The mother is claiming the first one is hers ... ... bit difficult to hide the second in the same way )

[roseandchan]

god bless american. maybe it should get its own house in order before sorting out others.

[dinos]

Haven't they just announced the strictly Catholic / Evangelist Palin's unmarried 17 year old daughter is due her second baby?

Neo Con?



(The mother is claiming the first one is hers ... ... bit difficult to hide the second in the same way )

Immaculate conception, perhaps?

[miltiades]

US democrats have been pleging support for ending the CyProb for years. I'd have to say that Viewpoint's post is strikingly (albeit unfortunately) accurate.

When President Carter was elected back in November 1976 , the whole of Cyprus , the free part , rejoiced and demonstrated their support for President Carter believing that he was committed to seeing Turkey out of Cyprus !! Does anyone really believe that the USA with Obama as its President will abandon the Turkish connection in support of Cyprus in any other way other than talk and encouragement for a solution.
Obama is a brilliant lawyer and a very talented strategist as well as a realist and highly unlikely to do anymore for Cyprus than Jimmy Carter did.

[Nikitas]

Remember Clintons, standing in front of a map of Turkey, outlining the strategic importance of the area. End of story. Expect nothing, then you will not be disappointed.