Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides described today's meeting with his Greek counterpart as full and productive in terms of substance, content and results.
In his statements after the meeting, Mr.Kasoulides stressed that Greece remains a stable and long-standing supporter of Cyprus in its efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Bi-zonal Bicommunal Federation and with respect for international law and European values.
"We exchanged views on a wide range of issues from the Cyprus problem, trilateral cooperation, and the ongoing Turkish provocativeness, but also on regional, European and international issues of common interest," he said, adding that "Cyprus and Greece maintain an automatic mechanism of coordination and consultation on issues of concern to us."
At the same time, the Cypriot Foreign Minister stressed that Athens and Nicosia remain stable pillars of security and stability in the Mediterranean region and added that he and his Greek counterpart discussed ways of dealing with Turkish provocativeness. "The continuous Turkish violations of international law form a difficult environment that we have to face," Kasoulides said, stressing that the two countries remain firm on a path of rationality, which, he said, "is the path of respect for international law, the law of the sea and European values."
"The objective of the Republic of Cyprus remains firmly the viable solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation, in accordance with the UN resolutions," he concluded.
For his part, Nikos Dendias underlined that Greece continues its full support for a viable and just solution to the Cyprus problem based on a Bi-zonal Bicommunal Federation in accordance with UN resolutions and compatible with the European acquis.
The Greek Foreign Minister described today as a day of particular importance for the country as the first Rafal fighter jets arrived, which, he said, "will contribute to the protection and defence of Hellenism."
Referring to the continuous Turkish provocations and violations, Mr. Dendias stressed that these are now accompanied by an increase in aggressive rhetoric, even against specific individuals and stressed that Greece will continue to raise these issues both in the EU and in international forums. "For our part, we reiterate our intention for a sincere and constructive dialogue with respect for International Law and the Law of the Sea."
At the same time, Dendias noted that the cooperation between Greece and Cyprus is not unilateral but covers a wide range of issues. "Our common goal is also to consolidate and, if possible, strengthen trilateral and multilateral cooperation. Our cooperation with other countries in the region, starting with Egypt and Israel, has expanded and now covers a very wide geographical range. I would also like to mention the 3+1 cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the United States. This cooperation is a milestone of multilateralism in the region, since it involves our strategic partner, the United States. The multilateral formats started with an exchange of views on issues of common interest, but they have evolved into a framework for the operation of strategic relations. They cover energy, transport, civil protection, tourism and, of course, developments in the wider Mediterranean region."
"Finally, we talked about cooperation within the UN. As is known, Greece has submitted its candidacy for a seat on the Council for the period 2025-26. Our aim is to promote a positive agenda in order to address common challenges, such as the impact of climate change and migration-refugee issues. The guiding principle in this effort is adherence to international law, the promotion of good neighbourly relations and full respect for the provisions of the UN Charter."
Source: CNA
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