The new Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Republic of Austria, Andreas Ignatiou, expressed gratitude for Vienna’s support in efforts for a Cyprus settlement, while presenting his credentials to the Federal President Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen, during an official ceremony, which took place at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, on February 20.
According to a Foreign Ministry announcement circulated Sunday to the press by PIO, Ambassador Ignatiou conveyed to President Van der Bellen the warm greetings of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides and extended an invitation to visit Cyprus.
During a tete-a-tete meeting the Ambassador expressed his commitment to work to further strengthen the already friendly bilateral relations.
He also expressed gratitude for Austria’s firm support in the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, as well as for the country’s continuous presence in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
President Van der Bellen wished the Ambassador every succe
ss in his tenure and pointed out Austria’s will to further deepen the excellent bilateral relations.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency