The Cyprus problem is the main concern of Greek foreign policy, the President of the Hellenic Republic Mrs.Katerina Sakellaropoulou said today during a meeting with the President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, who is visiting Athens.
Welcoming President Anastasiades at the Presidential Office in Athens, President Sakellaropoulou said the following: "Mr. President, my friend Niko, I welcome you to the Presidential Palace on a special visit. I welcome you just before the end of your term of office as President of the Republic of Cyprus and I would like to thank you for our close cooperation. Throughout these years, as in the past and in the future, I assure you that the close cooperation between Greece and Cyprus has been and will be aimed at achieving an agreed solution to the Cyprus problem, within the framework of the UN Security Council resolutions.
Turkish intransigence and aggression will not discourage us from firmly supporting the efforts of the UN Secretary General to find common ground in order to resume negotiations. The joint diplomatic mobilization of our countries, Greece and Cyprus, is, I think, steadily achieving the decisive intervention of the institutions of the European Union to prevent the Turkish methodologies for the emergence of a pseudo-state.
I want to emphasize, once again, and assure you, that the Cyprus problem is a constant concern and a top national issue in Greek foreign policy. Again, thank you."
For his part, President Anastasiades said: "Madam President, my dear Katerina, today's visit has a double character. The first is that, with the completion of ten years in the Presidency, my presence in the governance of the country comes to an end. I felt the need to express the gratitude of the Cypriot Hellenism and myself personally for the ungrateful support I received throughout my time in the Presidency from the Greek governments and the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic.
If Cypriot Hellenism has survived, it is thanks to the support of the wider Hellenism, the Hellenic Republic, which at crucial times stood by my side, both actively during the invasion and later diplomatically.
If Cypriot Hellenism has survived, it is thanks to the support of the wider Hellenism, the Hellenic Republic, which at critical times stood by its side, both actively during the invasion and later diplomatically. It is well known that through the impeccable, close and methodical diplomatic effort made by the two countries, we have, if anything, achieved United Nations resolutions that create a shield to safeguard the Republic of Cyprus. At the same time, the joint efforts within the European Union create the other dimension, the initiatives that Europe must take on a European problem, so that any solution, apart from being functional and therefore viable, is also fully in line with the European acquis. That is why I once again express my grateful thanks.
The second reason why I am here is, as a minimum sign of appreciation to the Greek state, to the brotherly Greek people, the foundation stone for social housing and a park in the area of Mati, which was destroyed in July 2018, where lives were lost and cannot be replaced, but at least it was considered to be a sign of the love and solidarity that is always mutually expressed by the two states, that the Republic of Cyprus would grant a sum of 10 million euros, in addition to private contributions, in order to contribute to the efforts made by the Greek state to alleviate the pain caused by that disaster.
I am sincerely glad to be with you. As of March 1, I will be a mere private citizen, but I will not cease to be a Greek fighter. For peace, justice, social progress."
Finally, Mrs. Sakellaropoulou said: "I also want to thank you because this action that the Republic of Cyprus took at that time, through you, for Mati, was just another proof of the solidarity and the close relationship between our two peoples, the Greek and the Cypriot Hellenism. I hope to meet you, now in your new capacity, and you and Andri, may you always be well, I hope."
(PM/MB/MB/SX)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs to PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
