The US Congress last night voted to lift a decades-old arms embargo on Cyprus, defying Turkey by seeking warmer ties at a time of renewed tensions.<br />'' <br />'' The Senate approved the measure as part of a massive Defense spending Bill that passed 86 to eight and already went through the House of Representatives, with President Donald Trump likely to sign it.<br />'' <br />'' Under the new act, the United States will still restrict certain sensitive technologies to Cyprus unless the US certifies that the island is denying Russia military vessels port access for refueling and servicing.<br />'' <br />'' US officials have been concerned that the ban has brought EU member Cyprus closer to Russia, with the island in 2015 signing off on an access deal to its ports.<br />'' <br />''<br />''The United States imposed an embargo on the full island in 1987 with an aim to prevent an arms race and encourage a peaceful settlement between the Greek majority and Turkish minority.<br />