Christodoulides: US Visa Waiver Program announcements “very close"

We are very close to having announcements on the issue of entry visas with the USA, President Nikos Christodoulides has said.

He was speaking on the occasion of the start of the strategic dialogue with the USA which he characterised as "a very important development."

Speaking at the opening of the Cabinet meeting on 24 October, Christodoulides asked all the Ministers to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since as he said, the 23 October dialogue covered encompassed all the Ministries.

As he said, the 23 October discussion focused on five sectors, which concern all Ministries and not only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"So I ask all of you to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has the most general supervision," Christodoulides said.

He referred to the issues of attracting investment and the issue of the abolition of entry visas, "about which we are very close to having announcements."

President Christodoulides also referred to the possibility of strengthening commercial relations, especially exports, and addressing the Minister of Commerce, said that this "is something that the Ministry must seriously deal with."

He also addressed the Deputy Minister of Research on the issues of research and innovation, while as he said, the issues of defence and security were also discussed.

"I repeat that it is not a matter that concerns exclusively the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the supervision, (the dialogue) affects all of you horizontally," he added, and requested that any ideas and opinions that exist be promoted within the framework of the dialogue.

Additionally, the President of the Republic referred to the meeting he had with the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien, but also to the meeting he had with the newly-elected President of the European Council, who takes over as President of the European Council from 1 December.

"I was pleased to hear from foreigners, it is not our own assessment, the recognition of our country's role in the region," he concluded.

Also read: Cyprus’ effort to join US Visa Waiver Program ‘on a very good path’

(Source: InBusinessNews)