Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cyprus President Nikos Anastasiades said Friday that the international law, strong alliances and the countries’ presence in the EU are the protection against Ankara’s rhetoric and provocations.
Greek Premier, who is in Nicosia to address the ideological and political conference of the ruling party DISY, met with President Anastasiades with whom he discussed the Cyprus issue, Turkey’s provocative stance in the eastern Mediterranean, energy issues and inflation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The two men had a tete-a-tete meeting followed by expanded talks between delegations of the two countries in the presence, inter alia, of Cyprus Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Energy and Justice.
Anastasiades and Mitsotakis made statements before their consultations. The Cyprus President said that the meeting takes place at a time when coordination and exchange of views are imperative more than ever.
He noted that so far, the cooperation and coordination is sound and they both act in the most beneficial way for the two countries.
President Anastasiades expressed his absolute gratification because the handling, on behalf of Greece, of a rhetoric, which is distant to our mentality, definitely weakens and defuses the goals that some countries with revisionist views and perceptions may have.
Cyprus President also said that European Council next week and the EU-NATO meeting will send even louder messages to avoid any challenges from anyone who question the sovereignty and territorial integrity of either Greece or Cyprus.
President Anastasiades also thanked the Greek government for granting Cyprus an aircraft that will be used by the President of the Republic and Ministers for their official travels. He also expressed gratification for the donation by Greece for the construction of a fire station in Larnaka district, which will cost about 650-700,000 euro. The two sides signed a memorandum of cooperation for the reconstruction of the fire station, and its equipment including two firefighting vehicles. The fire station was destroyed in a fire in July 2021.
In his statements the Greek Premier said that coordination is needed in the midst of geopolitical developments in the area, largely as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and due to the recent unrest in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He agreed with Cyprus President that our defense against any revisionist sentiments is international law, strong alliances and participation in the European family. Mitsotakis said that with calm determination we will oppose to any rhetoric adding at the same time that we need to always keep open the channels of communication.
As regards the sharp increase in energy prices and inflation the Greek Premier said that Greece and Cyprus have an important role to play in the talks taking place for the use of the energy reserves of the eastern Mediterranean.
The Prime Minister said that that the good performance of the economies of the two countries is the best guarantee for the benefit of citizens and businesses.
Mitsotakis referred to the fact that Thursday the Eurogroup officially confirmed the exit of Greece country from the statues of enhanced supervision and therefore a period of 12 years which greatly affected the country is now closing.
He said that Cyprus also went through financial difficulties but managed to overcome these difficulties much faster. The Greek Premier said that Greece is no longer the black sheep of Europe and can look to the future with determination and optimism.
He said that the donation for the reconstruction of the fire station is just a deed of appreciation for Cyprus’ assistance and support following the catastrophic fires in Mati area in Greece.
He also said that Greece is proceeding with the modernization of its fleet of aircraft and has granted Cyprus an aircraft which will now carry the flag of the Republic of Cyprus.
Source: Cyprus News Agency