The Cyprus issue was one of the topics discussed during their meeting at the Maximos Palace by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Speaking at the joint press conference with Mr. Erdogan, Mr. Tsipras noted that Greece supports a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the bi-zonal bi-communal federation (DDO), and within the framework set by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. At the same time, he expressed the hope that all parties will work so that the talks on resolving the Cyprus problem can resume as soon as possible.
For his part, the Turkish President referred, as in his statements to the President, to the 2004 referendums, saying that the Turkish Cypriots had accepted the solution while the Greek Cypriots rejected it. He noted that Turkey and Greece are "motherland" and guarantors in Cyprus and that they both want a fair and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem.
At the same time, referring to the Conference on Cyprus in Crans Montana, Mr. Erdogan argued that the Greek Cypriot side was the one that withdrew from the process, and said that, in his view, there are issues that are used as last minute evasions in order to the two sides do not reach an agreement.
During the answers to the journalists, the Greek Prime Minister returned to the Cyprus issue, saying that he is 43 years old, and that since he can remember he has been blamed on both sides for the shipwreck in the negotiations. "But this is because 43 years ago there was an illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus by Turkey," Tsipras concluded.
Mr Erdogan said his country would move towards a solution and said there would be no troops on the island if the Annan Plan had been implemented at this time.
Source: (KYPE / AZ / MK)
Source: RIK News