Greek and Cyprus Foreign Ministers Nicos Dendias and Ioannis Kasoulides agreed that Turkey’s absurdity has become an everyday phenomenon and that its provocations continue.
The FMs met Monday in Athens and in statements to the press Dendias noted that Greece will continue to stand by Cyprus. He said that Turkey’s provocations do not discourage Greece, which continues to defend its rights and to highlight in international fora the irrationality and illegality of Turkish claims.
Dendias also stressed that any setback on the part of Turkey or attempt to create a fait accompli, either in Greece or Cyprus, should bring about a European reaction.
The Greek Minister said that he will have meetings in the next days and will explain to all his counterparts that the decisions of the European Council regarding Turkish behavior, remain in force.
He described as unacceptable and reprehensible the fact that the Turkish authorities banned entry to Smyrna to the governor of the region of Central Macedonia Apostolos Tzitzikostas, adding that this behavior was condemned by Turkish officials as well.
Regarding the Cyprus issue Dendias noted that Greece will continue its support for a fair and sustainable solution, based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council and compatible with the European acquis. He said that the solution to the Cyprus problem is Greece’s highest priority. The Minister went on to say that the UNSC resolutions on the status of Varosha are clear and not open to interpretation.
The two Ministers discussed also the developments in the wider region and the recent agreement between Israel and Lebanon on the demarcation of maritime zones.
Dendias said that this is an example of how to resolve disputes between states on the basis of International Law and the Law of the Sea. He also emphasized that it is particularly important in light of resumption of talks between Cyprus and Lebanon on the delimitation of the EEZ.
Dendias said that the new Turkish-Libyan “memorandum” is a negative development. He also said that he briefed his counterpart on his visit to Niger, the huge problems that exist in Sub-Saharan Africa, which have to do with the food crisis and with security and terrorism.
Climate crisis and the COP27 in Egypt were also on the agenda.
Dendias also expressed sincere condolences on behalf of the Greek government for the death of Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II.
The Cyprus FM Ioannis Kasoulides said that Turkey is in a state of absurdity, regarding its revisionist policy, adding that is throwing all its weight to promote the upgrading of the illegal entity in the occupied areas.
He referred to the Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, in which Ankara wants to promote the illegal entity as an observer. Kasoulides said that this would be a serious upgrade step and both Cyprus and Greece have moved on many levels, to prevent it.
He said that the attempt is to change the law to allow admission under observer status to entities, not just states and international organizations, adding that this is an attempt by Turkey to overcome the resistance of other Turkish-speaking states to accept the unrecognized state as an observer.
Kasoulides also referred to the illegal entity’s letter to UNFICYP as regards its operation in the occupied areas, saying that this is another effort for the illegal entity to be recognized.
The Cyprus FM also referred to the further opening of the fenced off area of Varosha and the presence of the floating drilling rig “Abdul Hamid Khan”, which is currently drilling in an area Turkish jurisdiction, “but we will see what the next stop will be”.
Kasoulides said that Greece and Cyprus take actions to prevent all these.
As regards the death of the Archbishop of Cyprus he expressed his deepest sorrow saying that he had goals and was fighting for them, including important reforms within the Church of Cyprus, but also promoting the unity of Orthodoxy under the inspired leadership of Ecumenical Patriarch.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Numerous rounds of peace talks under the UN aegis to reunite the island failed to yield results. The latest negotiations took place in the summer of 2017 in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana.
Source: Cyprus News Agency