US Deputy Secretary of State, Michael Rigas, has said that Washington continues to advocate for a peaceful reunification of Cyprus and hopes that the UN “Secretary-General’s meeting in July will contribute to a clear path toward a peaceful and prosperous future for all Cypriots.”
Speaking during the 40th Annual PSEKA Conference taking place in Washington, Rigas also said that the US welcomes the reappointment of María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar as the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy and the appointment of Johannes Hahn as the European Commission’s Special Envoy for Cyprus.
Moreover, the US Deputy Secretary of State noted that “trade and investment are the foundations of the US–Cyprus relationship.”
Rigas added that issues such as digital transformation, harnessing artificial intelligence for development, and tackling cyber threats are vital for both American and Cypriot companies. He noted that General Electric Aerospace is another major player seeing opportunity in Cyprus, partnering with UANCO to develop a regional jet engine repair hub.
“We encourage Cyprus to adopt a foreign direct investment screening mechanism, so that investments align with the interests of the Cypriot people and bring economic benefits without compromising national security. Greece has already enacted such legislation, and we welcome the Cypriot Parliament’s consideration of a similar framework. Companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil, leaders in offshore hydrocarbon development, are also investing in Cyprus,” he stated.
Rigas highlighted that these investments contribute to Europe’s energy security, address threats, and enhance regional economic cooperation. He stressed that “we also look forward to the opportunities offered by the 3+1 framework, which unites the US, the Republic of Cyprus, Greece, and Israel to strengthen economic ties, particularly in energy and investment.”
He also noted that US–Cyprus cooperation extends beyond the bilateral level. A case in point is the CYCLOPS Training Center in Larnaca. “It has trained hundreds of Cypriot officials and thousands from 20 regional countries in border security, non-proliferation, cybersecurity, maritime security, and more,” he noted.
Rigas also addressed US–Greece relations, describing Greece as “a critical part of our approach to the Eastern Mediterranean” and “an indispensable partner and key NATO ally.”
PSEKA President Philip Christopher, in his address to the conference, highlighted the long-standing nature of PSEKA’s work, noting that “we’ve been doing this for 51 years,” since the time of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. While many, he said, “might wonder: ‘What do we have to show for it?’,” the essence of the struggle lies in the fact that “the Republic of Cyprus continues to exist — independent, democratic, a member of the United Nations, a member of the European Union, and still fighting.”
Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki, who is in Washington for a series of meetings spoke about the Cypriot government’s efforts to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Washington, Evangelos Savva, referred to the Turkish occupation of Cyprus for over 51 years.
