Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statement following his meeting with his Cypriot counterpart, Nikos Christodoulides (Nicosia, 16.11.2021)

Dear Nikos,
Thank you very much for your kind words. It is always a great pleasure and honour for me to be in Nicosia and as you said, it is no exaggeration, I assure you, to say that in the past few days I have met Nikos more often than my family.
And of course, this reflects the excellent level of coordination on all issues that concern us, on the Cyprus issue, regional security and European affairs.
Let me also say that I consider there is a certain symbolism in my presence in Nicosia today. Last July I was here one day after the anniversary of the Turkish invasion.
Today I am here again one day after the anniversary of the declaration of the pseudo-state.
A declaration condemned by the UN Security Council as a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and its fundamental principles.
However, unfortunately, Turkey continues to act unlawfully.
It attempts to create new fait accomplis on the ground in the fenced-off city of Famagusta, it disregards the UN Security Council resolutions, it violates the sovereignty, the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus with provocative and illegal actions.
The rhetoric continues and so does the occupation. And also new violations are added with the most recent one being the instrumentalization of migration.
It happened in Evros last year; it was recently copied by others in the periphery of Europe, who are also trying to blackmail the European Union.
And of course, the Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot sides insist on discussing a solution to the Cyprus issue outside the framework of the relevant Security Council Resolutions and International Legality.

It is something that is not going to be discussed. Because proposals outside the framework of International Legality cannot be discussed.
We will assist the Republic of Cyprus in its efforts to resume negotiations to resolve the Cyprus issue on the basis of the Security Council Resolutions, on the basis of the European Acquis.
Our vision remains a reunited island, free from occupying troops, free from the anachronistic system of guarantees. We will continue to condemn the illegal Turkish actions.
Yesterday, both Nikos and I stressed to our European partners that the continuation of Turkish unlawful conduct, which is also contrary to the decisions of the European Council, cannot go unanswered. At the next Foreign Affairs Council, to be held in December, we expect concrete measures to address this situation, based on the proposals of the High Representative and the European Commission, which we expect to be presented very soon.
As I have repeatedly said, we do not have the slightest punitive attitude towards Turkey and, of course, we do not have the slightest punitive attitude towards Turkish society. We hope that one day Turkey will embrace international law, will stop promoting a neo-Ottoman, revisionist agenda, will stop harbouring destabilizing dreams. Unfortunately, though, this day does not seem to be close yet, especially for anyone here in Nicosia, the last divided capital of Europe. From Nicosia this dream seems very distant.
Today we discussed not only the challenges in the region but also in the context of our cooperation in multilateral schemes. Nikos referred to the several meetings we had in the past few days, with the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Egypt two days ago. On Friday we are having a meeting in Athens, again, with France and Egypt.
And we look forward to other meetings with other countries in the region in the framework of multilateral schemes, such as with Israel, with the Western Balkans, especially with Serbia.
Our aim is to address the challenges to regional peace, security and prosperity, on the basis of our shared values, on the basis of International Law, on the basis of the Law of the Sea.
Greece and Cyprus are deeply committed to respecting and defending International Law.
Let me close, Nikos, by extending my congratulations on the election of Andreas Mavroyiannis to the United Nations International Law Commission. We enjoyed it as much as you did.