Biden, Anastasiades discuss Cyprus on the phone

US Vice President Joe Biden phoned Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades on Friday to discuss developments in the ongoing efforts to reach a settlement on the divided island, the White House said in a statement.

The two also spoke about a tripartite meeting between Greek, Cypriot and Israeli leaders in Nicosia on Friday, in which the possibility of creating a natural gas pipeline to Europe was discussed.

The US vice president also discussed the pipeline issue in a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, the White House said in a separate statement.