Our path to the EU passes through Cyprus, Georgia`s President Salome Zourabichvili said on Tuesday evening, noting that the peoples of Cyprus and Georgia are faced with similar problems and that the solution will be reached only by peaceful means. On his part Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said the government will continue to honestly support the efforts for a deepening of relations between the EU and Georgia and thanked her for her unwavering position of principles on the Cyprus problem.
They were speaking during a dinner, President Anastasiades hosted in honour of Zourabichvili who is paying Cyprus a two-day official visit.
Addressing the dinner, President Anastasiades recalled that the two countries enjoy long-standing historic, cultural and religious ties.
“It is this basis which today determines our excellent relations, the increasing cooperation but also the determination of enhancing the institutional cooperation framework to new areas, such as political consultations on education, immigration and combating organised crime or even the expected growth of economic ties between the two countries,” he noted.
He also referred to the two countries` “common European orientation, on the basis of the great European Union family`s principles and values.”
This is why we warmly support the timely signing of an EU – Georgia Association and Free Trade Agreement as well as the visa liberalisation between EU and Georgia, he added.
President Anastasiades assured his Georgian counterpart that “we will continue to honestly and consistently support the efforts to deepen EU – Georgia relations.”
Referring to the national problems the two countries are faced with, he said that they both wish for their peaceful resolution, always on the basis of international law and good neighbourly relations, in full respect of the sovereignty and the independence of each state, far away from an foreign dependencies.
Once more, he added, “I would like to thank you for the unwavering position of principles your country has on the Cyprus problem, assuring once more the respective firm support of Cyprus in the efforts for a positive outcome in the Geneva International Talks.”
On her part, speaking through an interpreter, Georgia`s President also referred to the historic and religious ties between the two countries, pointing out the spiritual role the Churches of the two countries have played for their peoples and history.
Zourabichvili referred in particular to the discovery of Georgian monasteries in the Gialias area, which is a great cultural event for Georgia.
Our path to the EU passes through Cyprus, she said, adding that the country`s support in this path is very important for the Georgian people. She also acknowledged that the road is a difficult one but noted that she knows that Georgia`s partners will offer their help in that direction.
She also said that the two peoples are facing similar national problems, underlining that a solution will be reached only by peaceful means.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Numerous rounds of talks under the UN aegis to reunite the island under a federal roof failed to yield results.
Source: Cyprus News Agency