D. CHRISTOFIAS: I talked today with the Minister, because we met recently in Nicosia. Needless to say, despite the problems Greece is dealing with, the Cyprus issue is a priority for the Greek government, and I want to thank it for that. We are coordinating during the various meetings we have – Mr. Avramopoulos always sets out the Cyprus issue in a very clear manner.
And you know how much we love Greece and how we empathize with the government and the Greek people. We are in a difficult position – the two governments and the two peoples, with the various economic issues. And of course we will continue to fight on behalf of the Greeks and the Cypriots – I continue to say all Cypriots, as you know – to intercept this attack we are under. It is exhausting. Of course, we will make sacrifices. The Cypriot people, too, will make sacrifices, and the Greek people are doing nothing else at this time. We hope that the Greek government can hold the ramparts, so that at the end of the day they can turn the situation around. I want to thank the Minister for the pleasure of this meeting, and hope that we meet again as soon as possible in Cyprus or in Greece.
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: I thank the President of the Republic of Cyprus for our meeting today, which took place within the framework of the proceedings of the UN General Assembly. This space gives us the opportunity – within constant bilateral meetings – to present, first of all, our national issues and to talk with our friends from around the world about how this difficult global economic crisis – of which Greece and Cyprus are victims – is evolving.
However, as the President said, in our planning and strategy, and in our hearts, Cyprus has a prominent place, with all the problems that have accrued of late, in the face of our joint effort to reach a solution at some point on a problem that has plagued us for over 35 years. The fact that we are at a difficult time in the Cyprus issue is due – and I want to note this once again – to the unwillingness of the Turkish Cypriot side, and, by extension, of the Turkish side, to find a solution.
The Cypriot government and the President of the Republic of Cyprus are doing battle at this time, with dynamism and dignity, with convincing arguments. And today, following the excellent speech the President made, the concern cultivated within the community of nations, at the UN, shows again the paths we must follow.
As the President very correctly pointed out, we have to deal with an economic crisis that is getting deeper and broader. We are fighting this battle together. We want to believe that in the end we will manage to overcome the difficulties and – most importantly – contribute, Greece and Cyprus, to a new thinking that is taking shape in Europe and that wants Europe to integrate politically, so that it can strengthen its position for successfully confronting the challenges of the era and the challenges of the future.
In this struggle – the European struggle, the national struggle – Cyprus and Greece are on the front line, in brotherly unity.
September 26, 2012