Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras reiterated Friday his Government’s support to Cyprus and noted that both countries share the same aim which is the termination of the illegal Turkish occupation and the comprehensive, agreed, lasting, just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem.
Samaras was speaking to Press after a meeting with Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades, who stressed that difficulties lie ahead, adding that we are not far from concluding a joint declaration that would pave the way for the resumption of the talks aiming at reaching a Cyprus settlement.
Cyprus President flew to Athens Friday morning where he had consultations with the Greek Premier and the Foreign Minister on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and the efforts underway for the joint declaration.
Speaking to the press after the meeting that lasted a little over an hour, President Anastasiades said that are serious prospects for the conclusion of a joint declaration that will meet the basic principles for a Cyprus solution and lead to the resumption of Cyprus talks.
He said that the cooperation with Athens, creates the prospective for national consensus that is vital in order to move ahead.
Cyprus President noted that the joint statement is not the solution of the Cyprus issue but rather it creates the parameters within which the two communities on the island and Turkey can move so that a solution can be reached that will be accepted by the Greek Cypriots and at the same time will not disregard the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.
He pointed out that the solution should be viable and lasting and should safeguard our presence in the European Union, the human rights and the acquis communautaire in the territory of the Cyprus Republic.
“From the developments so far, there are prospects of soon concluding a joint statement that will safeguard the basic principles and the basis for the solution, namely the single sovereignty, single international personality and single nationality, but at the same time will secure the human rights for all Cypriots and more important the full implementation of the acquis”, he said.
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said that Cyprus issue is the top priority for the Greek foreign policy and that the basis of Greece’s policy is the continuous consultation and coordination with Nicosia.
He noted that we must draw lessons from the past and reiterated Greece’s firm support to the Cypriot government and people.
“We share the same aim and that is the termination of the illegal Turkish occupation and the comprehensive, agreed, lasting, just and viable solution that will provide for single sovereignty, single personality and single nationality of the united Cyprus and will safeguard its status as an EU and Eurozone member state and will provide for the implementation of the acquis in the whole of the island”, the Greek Premier said.
He went on to say that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are the ones that will sit at the table of negotiations and they have the responsibility for these negotiations to reach a final settlement, pointing out that we must draw lessons from the recent course of the Cyprus problem and safeguard the consensus on national level.
Samaras also said that the solution should be put in referendum in both communities.
He also pointed out that Greece firmly supports Cyprus’ sovereign right to explore and exploit the natural gas reserves in its exclusive economic zone, underlining that these rights derived from the international law and are respected by the international community with the exception of Turkey, which, he said, insists on unacceptable and futile efforts that escalate the tension.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.
A new round of talks is expected to start under UN auspices, once the joint declaration has been adopted by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides.