My dear Yiannis,
First of all, I’d like to extend the Greek Government’s heartfelt and deepest condolences for the late Archbishop Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of New Justinian and All Cyprus.
Our meeting today is a very important opportunity for coordination between us, which is absolutely necessary, especially at this time. We have jointly reviewed the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, and we will continue our discussion at the working lunch that will follow.
We focused on three major issues, three subject areas.
The first one is the Cyprus issue. The Greek position is well known over time, but it is both our obligation and an opportunity to reiterate it every time.
We continue to give our full support for the achievement of a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue, based on the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, a solution compatible with the European acquis; that is, a solution of a bicommunal, bizonal federation.
The settlement of the Cyprus issue within the framework I’ve just mentioned is a top priority of Greek foreign policy.
It is, indeed, of great importance to reiterate this ahead of the sad anniversary of the declaration of the pseudo-state.
I, therefore, want to underline that Greece will continue to support the Republic of Cyprus in its efforts to prevent new faits accomplis.
We are closely following all Turkish efforts to upgrade the presence of the pseudo-state in the international arena.
I would like to recall that the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions 541, 550, and 789 on the status of Varosha are clear and require no interpretation, let alone a broad one.
The second issue we discussed was Turkey’s provocative conduct which, unfortunately, continues, while absurdity has become a daily occurrence.
This, however, does not intimidate Greece; Greece will continue to defend the validity of its positions, to present internationally the absurdity and illegality of Turkish claims and demands.
This is exactly why in the last few days I have met with six of my counterparts and this week I will be meeting with three more, actually four including you. Although you’ve always had a special place in our hearts, I cannot but count you in. That’s ten ministerial meetings in less than a week.
I explain to all colleagues that the European Council’s decisions regarding Turkey’s conduct, are in place and any backtracking on the part of Turkey, any attempt to create faits accomplis either in Greece or in Cyprus, will result in a European response.
At this point, I am obliged to mention the unacceptable and reprehensible incident of the entry ban and detention imposed on the Governor of Central Macedonia Region, Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas in Izmir for two hours – the detention was two hours, the ban took much longer – by the Turkish authorities.
I’d also like to state that this act is not consistent with Turkey’s European perspective. Mr. Tzitzikostas was in Izmir as the Chair of a European institution, not as a Greek regional governor. But for the sake of justice, I am obliged to emphasize that this behaviour was condemned by Turkish officials, as well.
Now, the third item we discussed with Mr. Kasoulides was the developments in the wider region, both positive and negative ones.
Among the positive developments, we both included the recent agreement between Israel and Lebanon on the delimitation of maritime zones.
We have welcomed this agreement. It is an example of how differences between states can be resolved on the basis of International Law and International Law of the Sea.
And I have to recall that this agreement is of particular interest since it is an agreement between two states that do not recognize each other.
I also believe it is important that we are on the verge of resuming talks between Cyprus and Lebanon on the delimitation of an Exclusive Economic Zone.
However, there are negative developments, as well.
I’m referring to the new illegal Turkish-Libyan “memorandum”, signed by representatives of the Government of Tripoli (GNU) – contrary to the United Nations roadmap – which was, of course, condemned by the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union, as well as by many individual states, including France and Germany, to name a few.
During the working lunch that will follow, I will also have the opportunity to inform Mr. Kasoulides about my recent visit to Niger, the Sahel region, and the enormous problems that exist in Sub-Saharan Africa, problems related to the food crisis, as well as to security and terrorism.
Additionally, we will address climate change issues ahead of COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, where Prime Minister Mitsotakis will be traveling to. Greece fully supports both the measures to save the planet from climate change and the Egyptian government’s significant effort for this important conference.
In addition, we will discuss our cooperation in multilateral formats. Tomorrow, Mr. Dačić, the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs and an old friend of ours, of Greece’s, and of mine personally, will arrive here on his first visit abroad.
We have numerous trilateral and multilateral formats with Cyprus, of course, I also mention the one with Armenia, but there are many others as well. We will touch on these issues during lunch.
Again, my dear Yiannis, in addition to the heartfelt condolences of the Greek Government on the loss of the Archbishop, I would like to express our great pleasure that you, personally, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, are in Athens for yet another visit.