Athens, Greece. House President Annita Demetriou on Monday called for substantive progress to resume negotiations on the Cyprus problem after meeting Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis in Athens. She said Greece and Cyprus are working together toward the goal of liberating and reuniting Cyprus.
Meeting in Athens
Demetriou said a substantive exchange of views took place on the challenges and complex issue which Greece and Cyprus are called upon to address jointly, particularly at the European and regional levels.
Regarding the Cyprus issue, she said the need for substantive progress to resume negotiations was underlined.
Shared position of Greece and Cyprus
Demetriou said the negotiations must be undertaken with the aim of liberating and reuniting Cyprus, and added that Greece and Cyprus are working together in that direction.
She said the possibilities for leveraging the dimensions of relations between Europe and Turkey were also discussed.
Demetriou added that both Greece and Cyprus are promoting responsible policies and coordinated diplomatic initiatives, and that close cooperation and coordination remain essential to defend the prevalence of international law, European principles and values in Cyprus, and their national interests.
Diplomatic efforts
Her comments come as efforts have intensified on all sides to bring about a resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus problem.
Earlier this month, Gerapetritis was visited by United Nations envoy Maria Angela Holguin.
After that meeting, the Greek foreign ministry said Gerapetritis had expressed Greece’s confidence in UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ efforts toward finding a comprehensive, just, and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue.
Greek foreign ministry statement
The ministry said such a solution must be found within the framework of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
It added that Gerapetritis stressed the importance of maintaining the momentum built on the Cyprus issue over the past two and a half years.
The ministry said Greece, in solidarity with the Republic of Cyprus, remains ready to contribute constructively to the next steps, with the aim of achieving the resumption of talks on the basis of the agreed framework.
