E. VENIZELOS: It is a pleasure to receive here today, at the Foreign Ministry, my friend the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, with whom I carried out a review of the state of play in all the issues of common interest. I briefed him on my recent meetings in Ankara, Majorca and Brussels, and we reaffirmed, once again, that Greece and Cyprus, two independent member states of the UN and the European Union, are acting in the single geographical space of the Eastern Mediterranean with the same sense of historical responsibility for maintaining the security and stability of this region, which is critical not only to us, but to the whole world.
The existence, security, independence and international legal personality of the Republic of Cyprus are a fundamental right of Hellenism. And we are determined to defend this at all costs.
Anyone who thinks that there is some other, greater priority in our national policy than the Cyprus issue and the necessary political solution is mistaken.
The Cyprus issue is the catalytic factor for the whole range of our national policy issues, and our brotherly ties are what guide us in drawing our daily line on these issues.
F. FOTIOU: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister. It is a great pleasure to be here at the Foreign Ministry today.
I had the opportunity today to discuss a number of issues with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, including the recent developments on the Cyprus issue, everything that’s happening with the EEZ, the Turkish provocations, and the important issue of the Coalition for peace, which, as you know, we, as the new government, have decided to join.
I don’t need to tell you that the relations between the two countries are excellent, but during these difficult times for Hellenism – in Cyprus and in Greece – there are certain imperatives: coordination, unity in how we handle issues, collective response to these major challenges.
I am certain, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, my friend, that we are moving in the right direction.
Thank you again.
E. VENIZELOS: And I thank you.
July 23, 2013