Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos met at the Foreign Ministry today with the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Photis Photiou, who is carrying out a visit to Greece.
The meeting reaffirmed the excellent level of cooperation between Greece and Cyprus and the mutual will to further strengthen coordination and joint actions between the two sides, particularly in the current difficult state of affairs. Special reference was made to the prospects opening up in the sector of energy cooperation.
Mr. Avramopoulos reiterated Greece’s full support for and solidarity with the Republic of Cyprus, underscoring that the Cypriot people are confronting the difficult decisions taken to confront the crisis with exceptional courage and strength, and expressing his conviction that, with proper planning and strategy, Cyprus will soon return to the path of growth.
Mr. Avramopoulos stressed that Cyprus issue has been and remains Greece’s top priority, noting that Greek-Cypriot cooperation is the cornerstone of the national policy. Our common goal, he stated, is the end of the Turkish occupation and settlement, and the finding of a comprehensive and agreed solution to the Cyprus issue based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council and Cyprus’s membership in the European Union.
Finally, the Foreign Minister reiterated Greece’s support for Cyprus’s joining the Atlantic Alliance’s Partnership for Peace (PfP).
Greek Minister of Defence Panos Panagiotopoulos also participated in the meeting.
May 9, 2013