Tempi and Cyprus at the meeting between Sakellaropoulou and Christodoulidis (PHOTO)

Cyprus is the leading issue of Greek foreign policy, it was mentioned today during the meeting of the President of the Republic Mr. Nikos Christodoulides with the President of the Hellenic Republic Mrs. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, in the context of the official visit of President Christodoulides to Greece.

This morning, President Christodoulidis, accompanied by his wife Mrs. Filippa Karsera Christodoulidis, received an official reception, at the Presidential Palace, in Athens, by President Sakellaropoulou, while a military officer paid honors.

The National Anthem was played and then the two Presidents had a private meeting.

During the meeting, President Sakellaropoulou welcoming the President of the Republic said, among other things, that the visit of the President of the Republic of Cyprus to Greece is overshadowed by the tragic train accident in Tempi and expressed her condolences to the President for the loss of the two young Cypriots .

He added that "I think your many years of experience as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as an eminent diplomat will be valuable resources in your new efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.

The Cyprus issue is a constant concern and top national priority of Greece's foreign policy", said President Sakellaropoulou, noting that the guarantee of the effectiveness of these efforts is close cooperation and coordination at the bilateral, multilateral and regional level, which has made Greece and Cyprus pillars of stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean.

President Sakellaropoulou emphasized that the common goal of the two countries is to reach an agreed solution, on the basis of the UN decisions, a solution that will ensure the exemption of Cyprus from the anachronistic system of guarantees and the right to intervene in Cypriot affairs, as well as for the withdrawal of the occupation troops, but also the application of the European acquis throughout Cyprus.

For his part, President Christodoulidis, among others, conveyed his deepest condolences on behalf of the Cypriot people for the tragic accident in which so many young people lost their lives, including two Cypriots, adding that the two countries are mourning.

He emphasized that "the responsibility of all of us who are in positions of power is through our actions, our actions, to do everything possible to prevent such tragic events from happening again."

He added that this is his first visit as President of the Republic to Greece, a visit of symbolic importance that shows the fraternal ties between the two countries, but also essential considering the challenges we have to face.

He also referred to the "need to further strengthen our excellent bilateral relations", stressing that Greece and Cyprus "as members of the European family, we must, through our actions, our foreign policy, our domestic action, prove in practice that we are pillars of stability and security".

The President of the Republic added that "the current state of affairs in Cyprus cannot be the future of Cyprus, Nicosia cannot continue to be the last divided capital of Europe. We know very well the difficulties, the problems, the challenges, but this does not mean that we will remain with our hands folded. We will do everything humanly possible to break the deadlock, to achieve the goal of reunification, of liberation, on the basis of the agreed framework always and it is in this context that we believe that the EU can play a decisive role. The Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the EU and will continue to be even after a possible solution of the Cyprus issue and the EU has all those incentives to lead to a mutually beneficial state of affairs. Besides, as the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria demonstrate, we cannot change the geography and we owe it to all the states of the region through a positive approach, always with respect for international law, with respect for the principles and values ​​of the EU, to find ways to solve problems and work together to achieve what we can achieve, and take advantage of the opportunities that exist in our region.

And I am here precisely to coordinate with the Greek Government on how we can best either at a bilateral level or at a regional level or outside the EU to achieve all these goals".

After the meeting, a ceremony was held to award the President of the Republic by the President of the Hellenic Republic, with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Savior, which is the highest honorary distinction awarded by the Hellenic Republic to outstanding personalities of foreign citizenship.

Receiving the honorary distinction, President Christodoulidis assured that he will do his best to meet the expectations of the Cypriot people, and to appear worthy of the honorary distinction he received from the Hellenic Republic.

Earlier today, President Christodoulidis laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, in Syntagma Square, in the presence of a military chaplain who paid the respects.