Nicosia and Washington decided to speed up efforts to include Cyprus in the list of countries whose citizens do not need a visa to enter the United States, immediately setting up a Working Group on the issue.
According to a statement from the State Department, Foreign Ministers Nikos Christodoulidis, Minister of the Interior, Nikos Nouris, and Minister of Justice and Public Order, George Savvidis, met today at the State Department with the US Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Risch, who is paying a working visit to Cyprus.
The meeting is part of the strengthening of Cyprus-US cooperation on a wide range of issues, including the process of abolishing visas for holders of Cypriot passports wishing to travel to the US, it is reported.
It is added that the meeting reviewed, among other things, the progress made in relation to the process of inclusion of Cyprus in the list of countries whose citizens do not need a visa to enter the US (Visa Waiver Program) and decided to immediately establish a Working Group. consisting of competent officials from both Governments, to accelerate efforts to complete this process as soon as possible.
Issues related to the further development of bilateral relations between the two countries were discussed and views were exchanged on the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, through which the positive role that Cyprus plays as a factor of stability and security in the surrounding area.
Finally, it was agreed to continue and strengthen bilateral contacts at all levels with the aim of monitoring and managing consular issues, within the framework of the constructive and mutually beneficial Cyprus-US relationship.
Source: KYPE
