Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias made the following statements to ERT following the proceedings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council:
"Today, at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers that took place in Brussels, the main subjects of discussion were the developments in the Middle East, particularly regarding Syria and Israeli-Palestinian relations. We also talked about the developments in the Western Balkans, where there is concern at the phenomena of destabilisation and the way in which certain Western Balkan states are trying to impact the decisions of other states.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Minister, you also had a conversation with your British counterpart.
N. KOTZIAS: Yes, it was a long conversation, as you saw. We talked about what happened in Geneva and how we can help the talks to continue for a solution to the Cyprus problem so that we can have positive results. It is my impression that my British colleague has a better understanding of our positions regarding the need for the elimination of the system of guarantees and the rights -- which are illegal in our opinion -- of any country to intervene in Cyprus, and we talked about the process and manner of withdrawal of foreign armed forces.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Minister, a portion of the news media has started a blame game aimed at the Greek side. Do you have any comment on that?
N. KOTZIAS: Any time two sides meet to discuss the Cyprus issue, we see that, rather than ascertaining Turkey's intransigence and lack of will for a real solution -- as it insists on maintaining the guarantees and rights of intervention -- they put the blame on us. One report that I supposedly quit, another that I supposedly won't be sent again, that I will be punished... These things are planned and arranged in order to provide an excuse for the unacceptable stance maintained by certain sides in the negotiations on the Cyprus problem.
January 16, 2017