D. AVRAMOPOULOS: It was a particular pleasure today to meet once again with my very good friend the Cypriot Defence Minister. We met at the Foreign Ministry this time, with our previous meetings having taken place at the Greek and Cypriot Defence Ministries. It wasn’t just a friendly meeting. We had the opportunity to go into depth on all the aspects of our national issue. Greece is at Cyprus’ side in its ongoing effort to resolve the Cyprus issue. I would like to believe that we will soon see the day that will lead us to the result we all want.
I also had the opportunity to brief the Minister on the initiatives the Greek Foreign Ministry has taken on the European and international level, pointing the way in the collective national effort to rehabilitate our country’s international image. We are shaping a new environment of security and stability for the exercising of our foreign policy, in which the Cyprus issue has had and will continue to have a central position.
I also briefed him on the programme for the Greek EU Presidency, which begins on 1 January 2014, and I noted once again the great success of the Cypriot Presidency in the second half of 2012. It is in this spirit of heartfelt friendship that we met today with Mr. Iliadis, to whom we bid god-speed as he returns now to Cyprus.
I remind you, finally, that Cyprus will have ongoing support from Athens in its struggle.
D. ILIADIS: I want to thank my dear friend the Foreign Minister of Greece, Dimitris Avramopoulos, for the heartfelt welcome and hospitality.
We exchanged views on the developments in the Cyprus problem, on the issues concerning hydrocarbons. We discussed developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and we ascertained not only a coincidence of views and our common policy, but also our common effort and struggle for the freedom and reunification of Cyprus, to make it an island of peace, stability and growth for all its legal citizens. We also had the opportunity to exchange views on the wider region, where Greece and Cyprus function as factors for peace, security and stability – always on the basis of international law – and are seen as trusted and prudent factors in our region. Greece – under any conditions – remains the stable and selfless supporter of the great effort toward the freedom of the Republic of Cyprus and the survival of Cypriot Hellenism.
February 6, 2013