Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyianni has called on the Turkish leadership not to encourage intransigency with its actions and to promote modesty so that a new, well prepared and substantive negotiating effort on the Cyprus problem can begin.
In a statement on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Bakoyianni also assured of the unwavering solidarity and firm support of Greece to efforts by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the Cypriot leadership with a view to reach a Cyprus settlement.
Bakoyianni described the current status quo in Cyprus as unacceptable, noting that it must change so that the two communities in Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, will be able to enjoy the benefits from Cyprus’ accession to the EU.
Greek National Education and Religious Affairs Minister Evripides Stylianides, who is representing the Greek government in memorials and other events held here to pay tribute to those killed during the Turkish invasion, in statements after the official memorial ceremony in Nicosia, said that the illegal visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Cyprus' occupied areas constitutes a provocation and does not facilitate efforts to reach a Cyprus settlement.
He also expressed the solidarity of the Greek government and the people of Greece with efforts to reach a Cyprus settlement on the basis of UN resolutions and the international and European law.
On behalf of the Greek interparliamentary delegation attending ceremonies in Cyprus on the occasion of the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of the island, New Democracy MP Ioannis Tragakis denounced Erdogan’s illegal visit to Cyprus occupied areas, noting that it is undermining the effort under way with a view to reach a Cyprus settlement.
President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed during a meeting on July 1, to meet again on July 25 so as to review the work carried out by the working groups and decide on future steps. This will be their fourth meeting after Christofias' election as President of the Republic of Cyprus in February 2008.
Six working groups and seven technical committees, set up in the context of an agreement achieved on 21st March between President Christofias and the Talat, are meeting to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between the two leaders.
