The Cyprus issue was among the subjects discussed between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

The two spoke over the phone when Kerry telephoned Cavusoglu to express his regret over the assassination of the Russian Ambassador in Ankara, diplomatic sources said.

Cavusoglu informed Kerry over the latest developments on the Cyprus problem after the latter`s question.

In another development, US Ambassador in Nicosia Kathleen Doherty told Greek Americans in the US that the US will go to Geneva if the UN invite them.

Speaking to the overseas Cypriots during a meeting at the State Department, Doherty appeared encouraged by the progress achieved in the negotiations between President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci. She also expressed the US suppoprt in the procedure and her country`s readiness to help.

Anastasiades and Akinci decided on December 1 to meet in Geneva on January 9 next year. On January 11 they will present their respective maps on the territorial chapter of the negotiations and on January 12 a Conference on Cyprus will be convened with the additional participation of the guarantor powers, while other relevant parties shall be invited as needed.

Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-led talks since May 2015 with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.