The United States said on Friday it welcomes talks between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. ( Xinhua )
"We welcome news of today's positive meeting between Republic of Cyprus President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot Leader Talat," the State Department said in a statement.
"We are encouraged by the leaders' agreement to rejuvenate working group meetings immediately, and to resume full-fledged negotiations in three months in pursuit of a comprehensive settlement that would reunify the island into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation," the statement said.
The statement said the United States congratulates the leaders on their agreement to reopen the Ledra Street crossing in Nicosia after over forty years of closure, and said such steps build requisite confidence between the parties to advance toward a comprehensive settlement.
"The United States will continue its full support for this constructive dialogue, and for efforts by the United Nations to forge a just and lasting Cyprus settlement," the statement added.
Cypriot President Christofias has pledged to work hard with Turkish Cypriots for a solution to the decades-old Cyprus issue.
The Greek Cypriots, who rejected a comprehensive settlement plan initiated by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2004, have demanded new negotiations be based on a procedure agreement reached by the two sides in July 2006.