Nicosia: The importance of close coordination between Cyprus and Greece, particularly at the current critical stage in the Cyprus issue and ahead of the UN Secretary-General's forthcoming visit to the island, was highlighted on Monday by House of Representatives President Annita Demetriou and Greek MP Georgios Stylios.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Demetriou received Stylios, Chairman of the Greek Parliament's Standing Committee on Social Affairs and MP for Arta, who is visiting Cyprus as the Greek Parliament's representative at events commemorating the tragic events of 1974.
During the meeting, Demetriou thanked Stylios for being in Cyprus on a day of particular significance for the Greek Cypriot community, stressing that Greece is Cyprus' strongest fraternal ally. She underlined the importance of Cyprus and Greece acting in close coordination, particularly at the current critical juncture in the Cyprus issue and ahead of the UN Secretary-General's forthcoming visit to Cyprus.
Demetriou also noted the Greek Cypriot side's readiness to resume substantive negotiations from where they left off at Crans-Montana, with the aim of reaching a just and viable settlement in line with international law, the relevant UN resolutions and European principles and values.
For his part, Stylios said he was deeply moved to be in Cyprus during the commemorations marking the 1974 Turkish invasion. He stressed the longstanding cooperation between Greece and Cyprus, noting that support for the Republic of Cyprus remains a firm national priority for Greece.
Stylios also expressed the hope that the UN Secretary-General's forthcoming visit to Cyprus would contribute positively to efforts to resume the negotiating process and have a meaningful impact on the prospects for a settlement of the Cyprus issue.
The two also exchanged views on major legislative issues concerning the Parliaments of Cyprus and Greece, as well as on the common challenges facing modern democracies, particularly with regard to safeguarding institutions and the rule of law.
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. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.