Ioannina: The Magical Capital of Epirus, Greece
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Greece PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides stressed again that the solution to the Cyprus issue can only be based on the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council during their meeting in Nicosia on Wednesday.
The two leaders at the 2nd Cyprus-Greece Intergovernmental Summit expressed the expectation that Turkey will contribute substantially to the resumption and conduct of the talks.
They welcomed the mobilization within the United Nations, the dinner in New York under the Secretary-General on 15 October and his intention to convene a multilateral conference in the near future.
“The two countries are aligning their national aspirations. This second intergovernmental meeting is a special event”, stressed Mitsotakis.
Regarding developments in the Cyprus issue, he stated that there is a favorable dynamic for the resumption of talks.
“We have signs of progress. Our constant pursuit is a fair and sustainable solution based on the decisions of the UN Security Council. Greece will be a non-permanent member in the two years 2025-2026 and it is an opportunity to bring the national rights of the divided Cyprus to the international spotlight. There is absolute alignment of the two governments”, he stressed.
He also stated that the good climate in Greek-Turkish relations does not imply a change in Turley’s positions.
“We remain steadfast in matters of sovereignty, compliance with international law and the law of the sea. Anyone who has strong arguments should not hesitate to present them in public honest debate. We face with confidence the calm waters in Greek-Turkish relations, in the perspective that calm horizons will also open”, he underlined.
President Christodoulides referred to the timing of the meeting, saying that this was “a crucial time both on a regional and a European and international level, in an ever-changing world”.
“Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, the imminent change in the US government, the start of a new institutional cycle in the EU, demand an even more enhanced coordination of the two countries,” he said.
The summit, co-chaired by Christodoulides and Mitsotakis and attended by ministers and deputy ministers from both countries, discussed developments in the Cyprus problem and efforts to resume negotiations for a settlement.
The summit discussed cooperation between Cyprus and Greece to improve the quality of life of both peoples and it as decided that cooperation would extend into new sectors, such as labour and social policy.
The two countries reviewed progress in areas of cooperation, including education, health, energy, digital policy, environment, reforms and public administration. Fourteen ministers from both countries discussed these areas of cooperation.
The leaders acknowledged the significant progress made in civil protection actions and welcomed their excellent cooperation in repatriating their nationals from Lebanon last October.
In education, the two countries had signed an agreement of cooperation and mutual recognition of university titles, and further discussed bullying and the new of new technologies, universities and student issues.
Regarding health, the two countries signed agreements on kidney and lung transplants and agreed to expedite cooperation in pharmaceuticals.
In the energy sector, progress has been made in promoting the Great Sea Interconnector and both sides expressed satisfaction over the interest shown by investment funds from various countries to participate in the project. They also agreed to enhance cooperation in the competitive market of natural gas and renewable energy sources.
Related: President Christodoulides Sees “Mobility” on Cyprus After UN Talks
