Left wing party AKEL Secretary General Andros Kyprianou started a visit to Israel and Palestine on Thursday.

According to an AKEL press release today he met with Palestinian National Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad whilst later on tonight he will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The meeting with Fayyad took place in a very friendly atmosphere, the press release says.

It is added that Fayyad expressed his full support in the struggle of Cyprus for justice and briefed Kyprianou on current developments as regards Palestine.

On his part Kyprianou outlined President of the Republic Demetris Christofias’ efforts to put an end to the occupation of Cyprus and reunite the island.

Earlier on in the day Kyprianou met with General Secretary of the Palestinian People’s Party Bassam Al-Salhi as well as representatives from other Palestinian organisations.

AKEL SG briefed everyone on developments as regards the Cyprus issue and expressed his party’s support for the Palestinian people, an end to the occupation of the territory and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN led talks have been underway with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.