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Your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece,
Honorable Mr. Gerapetritis,
Dear George,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you today to Cyprus, where your first official visit since taking office is taking place.
This act contains strong symbolism and sends clear messages.
It also gives us the opportunity for substantive discussions on a wide range of important issues covering the spectrum of our relations, but also more broadly.
Today, we have reaffirmed the convergence of views, the common line of approach, as well as the excellent level of our relations. We are aligned in strengthening our continued efforts to jointly address international and regional challenges.
By definition, in the conduct of foreign policy we operate in a context much wider than our geographical scope. We operate in full awareness of the challenges and difficulties of this task. To this end, frankness, direct contacts and coordination are common parameters. We are strengthening and improving the mechanism of organization and consultation, and aiming for a multiplier effect.
I express my complete satisfaction, as we had a rich and productive discussion on a wide range of issues.
The primary issue is the Cyprus problem, for which Greece has been, and remains, our mainstay over the years. Our common vision remains the reunification of Cyprus. Exclusively within the agreed UN framework, on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation, with political equality, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
In every direction, we stress that we will never accept dichotomous solutions or other similar approaches.
As you know, we consider the strengthening of the EU's contribution to be particularly important in this context. Its active involvement, both in breaking the deadlock and during the negotiations, is of paramount importance. The recent European Council Conclusions are relevant.
We note that the Cyprus problem is back on the agenda and that our approach is being recognised and accepted.
A process for a return to negotiations has begun. Of course, there are no certainties and the Turkish attitude will largely determine the outcome.
We have taken the initiative, we have acted as those directly affected by the situation and our efforts will continue.
In addition, we have been concerned about developments in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region. Our countries are pillars of stability in the region, leading the development of multilateral cooperation schemes as a bridge between the countries of our region and the European Union.
We are working to further develop and deepen these partnerships so that the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region become a place of peace, stability and prosperity. We want to be, together, the catalyst for this effort.
In such a vision there is no room for threatening behaviour, revisionism, questioning and violation of international law.
On the contrary, our common compass is commitment, full and not selective and piecemeal compliance with international law, with European principles and values.
Finally, during the consultations we also addressed the challenges facing our common edifice, the European Union. Here too we found a convergence of views on a number of issues.
Dear George,
I welcome you again to Cyprus. Our close coordination will continue at all levels. This is what we ought to do, this is what we will do, and the uniqueness of our relationship requires it.
All the best in the performance of your duties.
(MF/MB/SX)
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