Cyprus is getting very close to announcements over the visa waiver programme with the United States, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday, as Cyprus and the US launched yesterday the strategic dialogue between the two countries.

Speaking to the Council of Ministers meeting today, Christodoulides described the commencement of the dialogue as “a very important development.”

He also called on all Ministries to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as yesterday’s dialogue covered all issues horizontally.

The President added the dialogue does not solely concern the Foreign Ministry, which is coordinating the dialogue with the US authorities.

“Therefore, I call on all of you to collaborate with the Foreign Ministry which has the overall oversight (of the dialogue),” he went on to say, noting that all Ministries should provide the Foreign Ministries with issues and suggestions to be promoted in the context of the dialogue

Christodoulides said the dialogue covered five issues, attracting investment, trade, visas, research and development and security and defence.

Referring to the discussions over the granting of visas, Christodoulides said “we are very close to announcements,” on the matter.

He also said the Commerce Ministry should deal with the issue of exports “very seriously.”

“I reiterate this (dialogue) does solely concern the Foreign Ministry, the Foreign Ministry has the oversight, it concerns all of you,” Christodoulides said referring to the Cabinet members.

Moreover, Christodoulides referred to his yesterday meetings with the US Assistant Foreign Secretary, responsible for European and Euro-Asian issues, James O'Brien, who visited Cyprus, as well as the new European Council President Antonio Costa, who visited Nicosia, ahead of his assumption of his duties on December 1.

“It is with satisfaction that I listened to foreign officials, these are not our views, to the acknowledgement of our country’s role int the region,” Christodoulides concluded.

Yesterday, speaking following the strategic dialogue, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said that consultations continue, adding Nicosia awaits the official announcement of the results regarding the application rejection limit, which is one of the basic technical criteria for the inclusion of a country in the US visa waiver programme.