Cyprus – Oil Exploration

Answer:   U.S. policy has not changed. Any dispute here is between the Republic of Cyprus, those countries that have signed agreements with Cyprus, and Turkey. The United States is not a party to these agreements. The State Department has no recommendations as to whether American companies should participate in the bidding process. The controversy, however, points to the need for all parties to focus on re-starting the UN's good offices mission to forge a comprehensive Cyprus settlement that reunifies the island into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. The next step should be to implement the agreement brokered by Under Secretary General Gambari July 8, 2006. A final settlement will enable all Cypriots to benefit from the island's resources.