The President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulidis described the 2nd Intergovernmental Summit of Greece and Cyprus as a joint conscious strategic choice and legacy.
He said that it is a necessary component in bilateral cooperation that touches on areas that touch the daily lives of citizens and that the coordination of the countries strengthens the geopolitical footprint in the region.
The Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the meetings of the two countries are continuous with the aim of aligning their aspirations and characterized the discussion at the intergovernmental meeting as substantial and not just communicative.
The President is satisfied with the tangible deliverables
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In his statements, President Christodoulidis stated that both countries considered from the beginning that the establishment of this body would be the necessary component for the more substantial deepening of relations in areas beyond national issues, i.e. in issues related to internal governance and they reach the common goals of citizens' everyday life.
"It is a joint conscious strategic choice and decision and beyond symbolism, it is a legacy for the substantial strengthening of our bilateral relations in today's complex and unstable environment and always for the benefit of our citizens", said the PtD.
"We are constantly pleased to note that our long-standing collaboration on matters of national, regional and European interest is expanding to matters of internal governance always to the benefit of our societies and I firmly believe that the benefits arising from the exchange of best practices and know-how through expertise and professionalism make the scheme essential and necessary", he continued.
He referred to the areas discussed today during the intergovernmental session, such as the digital policy and the implementation of the agreement with expertise from Greece that leads to the digital citizen, an application that will be available from December 5 and will be continuously developed.
The PtD also referred to the fields of civil protection after the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the single number 112 to strengthen the capacity to respond to natural and other disasters, the signing of agreements that provide for the performance of cross-resection kidney transplants and lung transplants in Cypriot patients and the cooperation in medicines sector for joint supply and ensuring adequacy.
Regarding the environment and climate change, he said that major challenges are being faced and the cooperation is aimed at the management and development of water resources. Regarding education, he mentioned, among other things, the establishment of branches of Greek universities in Cyprus and the recognition of degrees.
President Christodoulidis spoke of a critical juncture both regionally and internationally in a constantly changing world, with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, with the impending change of administration in the US, the start of the new institutional cycle in the European Union "which require even more enhanced coordination of our countries".
"Cyprus and Greece have managed to take advantage of our status as EU member states on the south-eastern border of Europe. Two states with excellent relations with our neighbors, proving in practice that we are pillars of prosperity, security and stability and we have succeeded in actions and not in words to strengthen our geopolitical footprint in Eastern Europe and the Middle East by promoting mutual benefits and implementing specific initiatives ", he said.
The PtD also said that views were exchanged in view of the enlarged meeting to be convened by the UN Secretary-General stressing that the contact on the Cyprus issue is daily, direct and continuous.
"The status quo in Cyprus cannot be the future of the people, it is not sustainable and the end of the occupation and the reunification of the last divided member state of the European Union is our number one priority," he said.
We are aligning our aspirations, said the Prime Minister of Greece
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The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the discussions are very frequent because the two countries align their national aspirations and follow a common step on the path of peace, development and prosperity.
"Although this second intergovernmental session is a special event, we set from the beginning the goal of strengthening our relations with an institutional character, these are discussions of substance and not communication", he emphasized.
The Prime Minister spoke about the areas of cooperation concerning education, health, energy, the environment and civil protection and digital governance. Regarding energy, he said that the Cyprus-Greece interconnection is a strategic project that also enjoys European support and will lead to the lifting of energy isolation.
"Every time we meet we also discuss the major geopolitical challenges, Greece and Cyprus are increasingly becoming pillars of security and stability", he stressed. He expressed satisfaction with the truce in Lebanon and added that Greece and Cyprus are always fighting so that the crisis that broke out does not become a regional flare-up and that a similar truce exists in Gaza.
Regarding the Cyprus issue, he spoke of favorable dynamics for the resumption of talks after a long period of inactivity, adding that thanks to the coordinated efforts of Athens and Nicosia "we have some signs of progress".
He indicated that Greece will be a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the two years 2025-2026 and it is another opportunity for national rights to come to the fore.
Regarding Greek-Turkish relations, he spoke of a "common perspective", adding that the mild climate may also favor the resumption of talks, but "it does not automatically imply a change in Turkey's positions". We remain, he said, steadfast in matters of sovereignty and international law and the law of the sea.
"However, anyone who has arguments should not hesitate to present them in an honest dialogue. This is why we face the calm waters in Greek-Turkish with confidence. In this perspective, calm horizons for the wider region should also be opened. Already, after all, we must not forget that Ankara's European relations are now examined through the prism of its relations with Greece and Cyprus", he said.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis said that they have succeeded with a joint effort in having binding decisions of the European Council, which essentially form a strict framework of criteria that Ankara must fulfill, and among these criteria is the change of its stance on the Cyprus issue.
"In conclusion, today's Intergovernmental Summit was very useful and productive. It perfectly served its role as the center of the coordinated actions of Greece and Cyprus, which is due to the methodical work of all the Ministers, all the Staffs that participated in its work", he said.
The Prime Minister announced that the 3rd Cyprus-Greece Intergovernmental Summit will take place in 2025, in Greece.
Source: KYPE
