The interest in the statements of President Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is found in the common line between Nicosia and Athens and the absolute coordination that exists. The two, at the end of the hour-long meeting, made joint statements to the journalists.
They received questions from ERT and RIK as well as from Michalis Ignatiou and Aristidis Viketos (s.p. the last two were not in the programming, which defined only two questions). The Greek Prime Minister even noted addressing Michalis Ignatiou that "he cannot deny the right to be asked a question. Impossible, even if we wanted to we can't!
"Greece's support for any initiative brought forward by the President and the Greek Cypriot side is a given and self-evident," he said, among other things, in response to a question from Stella Michael from RIK. Answering a question from Aristides Viketos if he can "assure that he knows the substance of the positions on the Cyprus issue in view of negotiations, what Nicosia wants and does not want?". "You are talking to the Greek Prime Minister who was 4 years. There are no seals, I believe I know everything I need to know, as does the Cypriot President. I say this because it is very important to respond to various, few, who methodically try to sow weeds in the relations between the two states. We will not do them any favors."
Christodoulidis: We are pillars of security and stability
During the private meeting, the President of the Republic addressing the Prime Minister of Greece said that "it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Cyprus after your magnificent re-election".
He added that “I am sure that our excellent cooperation will continue, will be strengthened even more. Today, through the consultations we will have, I am sure that we will also announce some concrete decisions, actions that demonstrate our strong conviction for further cooperation", said the President.
He added that "the presence of the Greek Prime Minister in Cyprus is not only of symbolic importance, but especially at the present time, considering all these challenges and opportunities that we have before us, I look forward to the discussion that will take place both in person and with the delegations , so that we can see how, through our joint actions, Cyprus and Greece, Greece and Cyprus prove in practice what we really desire, to be pillars of security and stability in the region.
We are in an area of particular geostrategic importance and we want to work with all our neighbors, without excluding anyone at all, as long as we work with a positive approach and always with respect for international law."
Mitsotakis: Absolute coordination between Athens and Nicosia
"Athens and Nicosia, Nicosia and Athens, continue in absolute coordination either at the level of the EU, the United Nations and at the level of our bilateral and multilateral contacts to claim a fair and mutually acceptable solution, a bi-zonal bi-communal federation, always within the framework of the decisions of the UN. These decisions were, are and will remain our guide. In the 21st century, this historical wound that is still bleeding in an independent country cannot remain open.
Neither the presence of an occupying army in an EU member state nor the outdated system of guarantees of the right of third parties to intervene in its affairs can be tolerated. That is why any dichotomous thought about two states is off the discussion agenda", said Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his statements with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulidis, after their meeting. "It is time for the European acquis to apply to the entire island and the only way, as you said, is to start negotiations again under the auspices of the UN Secretary General," he added.
"We agreed to cooperate more closely and for the implementation of the conclusions of the last European Council, a text which for the first time expresses the readiness of the EU to take an active role supporting this negotiation process at all stages and with all appropriate means" said the Prime Minister pointing out that the looming improvement in both Greek-Turkish and Euro-Turkish relations is an opportunity that we should embrace, provided it is gradual and reversible. "These two words will be the guide in this new endeavor. We can be optimistic, but we are not naive at the same time," he said.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis also said that the cooperation of the Mediterranean countries will be increasingly necessary to effectively deal with the climate crisis and thanked Cyprus for the help it offered to Greece and the commitment to participate in the reforestation effort of Rhodes.
For his part, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, welcoming the Prime Minister, announced that the Republic of Cyprus will bear the cost of the reforestation of the burned areas in Rhodes.
Also, after talking about a very constructive meeting which was centered on the start of discussions on the Cyprus issue, he underlined that the relations and aspirations of the two countries are common.
"As much as some people either in Athens or Nicosia "see" differences between us for their own reasons, our goals and aspirations are common, as well as the way and means to achieve the goals.
We are following with interest the developments in Turkey after the elections and we welcome Ankara's public statements about the desire to strengthen Euro-Turkish relations", he said, underlining that the role of the Greek prime minister in the European Council is of decisive importance.