US breaks ice with Greek Cypriots, wants Cyprus solution

The United States Thursday urged United Nations secretary General Ban Ki Moon to launch a fresh initiative for Cyprus' reunification soon, pledging support for such an effort.

The U.S. remarks came from Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nick Burns, the State Department's number three official, at a signing ceremony here with the Greek Cypriot government.

Burns and Greek Cypriot ambassador Andreas Kakouris exchanged diplomatic notes on the extension of a memorandum of understanding for the protection of Cyprus' archeological heritage.

The event also held symbolic importance, effectively meaning an end to cold diplomatic relations between Washington and the Greek Cypriots since April 2004, when the United States accused Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos of sabotaging a reunification effort sponsored by Kofi Annan, then secretary general of the United Nations.

"We hope the (U.N.) secretary general (Ban Ki Moon) will launch a renewed effort," Burns told reporters. "We will support it."

In simultaneous referendums three years ago, Turkish Cypriots overwhelmingly backed Annan's reunification plan, but a vast majority of Greek Cypriots rejected it, causing the initiative to fail. The U.S. administration then declined for a long time to hold high level talks with Greek Cypriots in reaction to Papadopoulos' move to spearhead efforts for the Annan plan's rejection.

Burns to visit Cyprus:

But in a further indication that Washington was breaking the ice with Greek Cypriots, Burns announced plans to visit Cyprus in September.

Asked if he would also visit the Turkish side on the island's north, he said that details of his trip had not been finalized yet.

The United Nations' expects a new Cyprus effort to come in the wake of Turkey's critical general elections tomorrow (Sunday).

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government staunchly supported the failed Annan plan.

Burns praised the extension of the U.S.-Greek Cypriot memorandum of understanding, originally signed in 2002, saying it was a major effort "to fight those who seek to plunder Cyprus' archeological heritage."

The diplomatic event took place three days after Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis took over as Greek Cypriot foreign minister from George Lillikas. She is a former Greek Cypriot ambassador to Washington.