President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday that Nicosia and Athens are in accord as regards the Cyprus issue, dismissing any rumors to the contrary. In statements to the press following a tete-a-tete meeting they had at the Presidential Palace, in Nicosia, in the framework of the Greek Prime Minister's official visit to Cyprus, President Christodoulides stressed that the aspirations, the goals and the means to achieve those goals of the two countries as regards the Cyprus issue are the same, "despite the fact that there are some in Athens and Nicosia, who, for their own reasons, see differences between the two states." The Greek PM noted that Greece's support for any initiative undertaken by the Republic of Cyprus regarding the Cyprus issue, is "self-evident" despite rumors to the contrary as regards the relations of the two countries. President Christodoulides also said that he expects a visit by an UN official in early September to prepare for the tripartite meeting in New York between himself, the UN Secretary-General and the Turkish Cypriot leader. He also said that the tripartite meeting of the leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Israel, that was postponed due to the Israeli Prime Minister's health, will take place beginning of September. The two leaders further announced that a meeting will be held on the work of the Cyprus-Greece Higher Cooperation Council on October 11-12 in Greece. President Christodoulides also announced that the Republic of Cyprus will bear the cost of reforestation of the areas affected by the recent wildfires in the Greek island of Rhodes. He noted that there has been great interest from Cypriot citizens and Cypriot businesses who want to get involved in this effort. President Christodoulides further said that the Greek Prime Minister's visit to Cyprus is not only an event of symbolic importance, but takes place at a critical stage both for the major national issues, the Cypriot and Greek-Turkish issues, as well as for regional and European development. He said that this is a period of geopolitical unpredictability something which undeniably affects the common challenges that Nicosia and Athens have to face. The Cyprus President said that they had a very constructive discussion, during which they exchanged views on important issues of bilateral cooperation and the Cyprus, Greek-Turkish and EU-Turkey agenda. He spoke of the close and productive relationship within the EU, in the field of defence and security, where Greece and Cyprus are not only strategic partners, but also factors of stability in the broader region, of energy cooperation which is constantly expanding and other sectors such as shipping, education, business and culture. He recalled that during his visit to Athens last March they agreed to set up a body of intergovernmental cooperation which provides for the establishment of a Supreme Cooperation Council of Cyprus and Greece. He described this as a landmark decision and said that the body will convene for its first meeting in October 11 and 12 in Rhodes. Speaking about the Cyprus issue, the President said that even if some, in Athens or Nicosia, continue, for their own reasons, to see differences between us, our goals and aspirations are common, as well as the way and means of achieving them. He also said that they are assessing with particular interest the developments in Turkey following the elections adding that they welcome Ankara's public statements about the desire to strengthen Euro-Turkish relations. The President noted that the evaluation of the implementation of parameters of the EU-Turkish agenda in absolute combination with specific moves towards the solution of the Cyprus issue, but also of Turkey's aspirations in the region, is something that it is part of the framework of our own approach, in relation to the Cyprus issue. President Christodoulides said that the role of the Greek Premier in the European Council is of decisive importance adding that other EU partners also approach the issue the same way that is any progress in EU-Turkish relations is related with positive movements from Turkey's behalf. He also said that the conclusions of the June European Council sent clear messages, that the Cyprus issue is a European issue and therefore its resolution on the basis of the relevant UN Resolutions is a priority for the EU. He also described as equally important the recent statement of the UN Security Council on the Cyprus conflict, where, among other things, the basis for a solution is reaffirmed in a clear way as well as the need to appoint an Envoy of the UN Secretary General and the need to avoid further challenges and further violations of the resolutions. The two leaders also discussed energy issues and migration crisis. He said that on energy there is a shared belief that the two countries can contribute decisively to the use of the energy prospects of the Eastern Mediterranean to meet Europe's needs, taking into account its effort to wean itself off Russian natural gas. In relation to migration, he noted that they pointed to the need to find European solutions since the frontline states, Cyprus and Greece and some other Mediterranean states, cannot continue to shoulder the burden. President Christodoulides said that the disproportionate burden borne by the Republic of Cyprus due to increased migration flows, requires a single and comprehensive European response. He said that end of August or beginning of September a new tripartite meeting with Israel will take place. The Greek Premier in his statements expressed Greece's gratitude to the Republic of Cyprus and the Cypriot people for their support following the devastating fires, noting that they always stand by Greece's side adding that they also do the same and will continue to do so. He noted that this very close cooperation between the two countries will be "safeguarded through the operation of the Supreme Council of Cooperation" adding that they both decided that this first meeting which they will attend will take place in Rhodes. Mitsotakis also said that Greece is still in a process to safeguard itself defensively, strengthening it diplomatically, and upgrading itself geopolitically. He noted that Greece's main and common concern with Cyprus is the end of the Turkish occupation by reaching "a just and lasting sustainable solution". He said that both countries are in absolute coordination in the EU and at the UN or through their bilateral and multilateral cooperation and the aim is for bi-communal, bi-zonal federation, within the framework of the of UN decisions which are our guide. The Greek Premier said that "we cannot have an independent country with the presence of occupying troops and guarantors nor can we ever accept a two-state solution." The Greek Prime Minister said that they agreed with President Christodoulides to cooperate, even more closely for the implementation of the conclusions of the last European Council. He noted that it is a text which for the first time expresses the readiness of the EU to take an active role, supporting the negotiation process at all stages and with all appropriate means. He expressed the belief that this looming improvement in both Greek-Turkish and EU-Turkish relations might be an opportunity, which we should embrace provided it is gradual and reversible. Mitsotakis also said that in this new effort we can be optimistic but not naïve. Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, he said, among other things, that the current positive climate with Turkey does not mean that Ankara has changed its policy, but Greece wants to exhaust every possibility in improving their bilateral relations. At the same time, he added, Greece will insist that Ankara should definitely abandon its aggressive and delinquent behavior and its unhistorical claims, at the expense of the national sovereignty and integrity of both Greece and Cyprus. As regards the migration crisis he said that this issue can be resolved once the traffickers' networks are dismantled. On the energy issue, he said that the Russian invasion of Ukraine led the EU to completely rearrange its energy capabilities, noting that the EU will need natural gas for decades to come and it is much better to have natural gas supplied in a stable and predictable way, either from European countries or from natural allies of the EU, such as Israel. He said that is this difficult period both Greece and Cyprus are factors of stability in the wider region. Replying to a question by the press on how Athens and Nicosia can upgrade their role, as well as their bilateral cooperation in issues that are EU priorities, Cyprus President said that Cyprus and Greece are the two countries in the region of particular geostrategic importance and have an obligation, as representatives of the EU in the region, to highlight the importance of the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East and the need for the EU to strengthen its presence in the region. He referred to migration and energy as examples adding that it is precisely for this reason that it was decided to set up these joint meetings with members of the Council of Ministers of the two countries, where they will also discuss issues that are strictly of national interest. Mitsotakis said, to the same question, that the President is right to point out a paradox that is while the two countries participate in tripartite structures, and supreme council schemes with other countries, Greece and Cyprus have never had such a similar body. He said that its foundation is important and demonstrates the fact that the great national issue monopolized our contacts to such an extent that they possibly neglected other areas of cooperation, which are very important. Mitsotakis spoke of the credibility of the two countries, within the European Union for the resolution of major geopolitical issues, something that has also an important contribution to issues, which may not be top priority issues for Cyprus and Greece, but are for Europe. He recalled that Cyprus left behind the economic crisis much faster through bold economic reforms and is now implementing innovative policy tools for digital policy and health issues. He said that they can learn from each other and he is looking forward to this close cooperation in other issues such as civil protection, water scarcity, biodiversity and tourism. Replying to another question about the meeting he recently had in Vilnius with Turkey's President, in relation to the Cyprus issue, the Prime Minister said that Greece supports "any initiative undertaken by the Cyprus President." He noted that President Erdogan knows and he conveyed to him that an improvement of EU-Turkish relations cannot but include the Cyprus issue, and that the insistence on a two-state solution only leads to an impasse. He said that the resumption of talks will pick up where we left off, in Crans Montana, to preserve the acquis of what was agreed and to move on from there adding that we are not going to change the rules of the game, the terms of a solution as it has been shaped by multiple decisions of the UN Security Council. President Christodoulides was asked about the tripartite meeting with the UNSG and Turkish Cypriot leader in New York in September and noted once again that his only pursuit through the proposal for a common meeting the Secretary General is the break of the deadlock and the resumption of talks from where they left off in Crans Montana in 2017 and that we will do everything possible without downplaying the difficulties. He noted that it is important that in this aim for the resumption of talks there is the support of the EU, the support of the UN Security Council, expressing the belief that the UN are also working in this direction. He said that this is the reason that a UN official is expected on the island beginning of September to prepare the joint meeting between himself, the Turkish Cypriot leader and the UN Secretary General. The President also added that the objective is the appointment of a representative of the Secretary-General who will have a mandate from the Security Council in relation to the resumption of the peace talks. In another question the Greek Premier said that there is absolute coordination and there is no lack of communication between Greece and Cyprus. He said that "there a few who methodically speak of problems in the bilateral relations" adding that "no problems exist." Replying to another question about the recent fires in Greece he said that these are cases done by intent or by negligence and that justice has taken its course and the Fire department investigates the causes. 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.

Source: Cyprus News Agency