Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the election of Nikos Christodoulides as the new President of Cyprus “will give new life” to the long-term efforts of the Republic and all its citizens to end the Turkish occupation, in the context of a comprehensive and mutually acceptable solution of the Cyprus issue between the two communities.
In a press release, Christodoulides’ political office says that the Prime Minister of Greece sent on Thursday a congratulatory letter to the President-elect, where he expresses the conviction that Christodoulides’ election will give new life to the process for resolving the Cyprus problem. The problem has been stagnant in the last few years, following the latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana that ended inconclusively.
In the letter, Mitsotakis also says that the cornerstone, guarantee and source of effectiveness of Greece’s policy in Cyprus, is the constant consultation and full coordination with the Republic.
Wishing Christodoulides every success in his work, Mitsotakis assures him that “the Greek Government and Greece as a whole are on the side of the Republic of Cyprus”.
Christodoulides’ diplomatic experience “an advantage” says Dendias
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In another congratulatory letter to the elected president, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Dendias, says he’s sure that Christodoulides’ many years of experience as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as a diplomat will be a valuable asset for further strengthening the international position of the Republic of Cyprus in the European Union, the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and generally in the international scene.
“It will also contribute”, as Dendias points out, “to the new efforts you will make to resolve the major international issue of invasion and occupation, the Cyprus issue.”
He assures the President-elect that “the Cyprus issue remains a top national priority of Greek foreign policy.” “The cornerstone of our policy in this matter is our continuous cooperation and full coordination with the Republic of Cyprus, at all levels”, Dendias adds.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.
Source: Cyprus News Agency