The Ambassador of Greece to Cyprus Ioannis Papameletiou said that the recent Geneva meeting confirmed that the Cyprus issue is at the forefront of the United Nations agenda.
In a televised message on the occasion of Greek Independence Day, the Ambassador noted that Greece supported the efforts made by the Cyprus government to resume negotiations on the Cyprus issue.
He also referred to Cyprus’ contribution in the struggle of the Hellenes in 1821 and said that thousands of Greek Cypriots fought in the struggle of the Greeks for independence.
Papameletiou said that the reunification of Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, is a common desire for both Cyprus and Greece.
He referred to the violations of international law and the UN Charter due to the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, pointing out that Greece and Cyprus have been and will continue to be jointly promoting, as EU member states, the need for the reunification of Cyprus and for a just, viable and functional solution.
Speaking about the recent Geneva meeting, Papameletiou said that we are now expecting the appointment of a personal envoy by the UN Secretary-General for the next steps in the discussions. He added that there will be a continuation of the informal meetings, both bilaterally and in a new five-party meeting at the end of July.
According to the Ambassador, Greece made it clear during the Geneva meeting that a just, sustainable and functional solution can only be achieved through a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, with one sovereignty and one citizenship as included in the UNSC resolutions.
He added that the solution must provide for withdrawal of the occupying forces and the safeguarding of the human rights of the entire Cypriot people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
The Greek Ambassador also stressed that there is no solution to the Cyprus problem through the oblique legalization of the fait accomplis of the occupation. He said that the rhetoric for a two-state solution, sovereign equality and equal international status cannot be accepted as they, among others, put into danger the very foundations of the international legal order.
Papameletiou also said that it is important to have a dialogue between the two communities to build trust, adding that Greece and Cyprus will continue to walk the path for a solution together.
He added that cooperation and coordination is needed more than ever because of the intense geopolitical developments in our region and the fact that Europe’s security is being threatened in various ways.
Greece and Cyprus, he also said, are pillars of stability, security, peace and development in the sensitive region of Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Speaking about the bilateral cooperation, the Ambassador expressed hope that this year we will witness a historic leap forward in the educational ties with the completion of all procedures that will enable higher education institutions from Greece to operate in Cyprus and welcome their first students from the island in the next academic year.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary General announced that an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format will be held at the end of July, following a similar meeting in Geneva, on March 17-18.
Antonio Guterres also announced that he will appoint a new personal envoy on Cyprus to prepare the next steps, while the two sides agreed to proceed with a number of initiatives, involving the opening of crossing points, the creation of a Technical Committee on Youth and other initiatives in the buffer zone and throughout the island.
Also read: Greek and Turkish FMs assess informal meeting on Cyprus
Source: CNA
