Nicosia, Cyprus. Former Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras said on Tuesday that coordination between Greece and Cyprus is more necessary than ever amid growing geopolitical instability, following a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides at the presidential palace. He said their discussions covered regional developments, the Cyprus issue and the close relations between the governments of Greece and Cyprus during his time in office.
Meeting focuses on regional developments and Cyprus issue
Tsipras said the two sides had worked together on efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, referring to his tenure as prime minister during the failed Crans-Montana negotiations in 2017.
He said that, at a time of intense geopolitical crises, coordination between Athens and Nicosia was more necessary than ever, adding that support for Cyprus remains essential in safeguarding the Republic’s sovereign rights under international law.
Reference to international law
Tsipras described Greece and Cyprus as forces of peace and stability and said both countries must continue to defend international law as the foundation for protecting their interests.
He said international law is what can defend vital interests and that states should oppose attempts to impose the rule of the strong over established legal principles.
Visit to Cyprus and upcoming conference
Tsipras is visiting Cyprus for the first time since establishing his new political movement, the Greek Left Alliance (Elas).
He is due to participate in the third international conference organised by the Alexis Tsipras Institute in cooperation with the Prometheus Institute, which will take place in Nicosia on Wednesday.
Call to restart negotiations
Tsipras also referred to developments concerning the Cyprus issue, saying he and Christodoulides agreed that efforts should continue to restart negotiations from the point at which they were suspended.
He said every effort should be made to resume talks from where they left off, based on the Guterres framework, for a just and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem for the benefit of the entire Cypriot people, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.