Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyianni has urged the Turkish side to show the necessary political will during the negotiations, which began today between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities, to help find an agreed settlement.
The Minister reiterated Wednesday her country’s support for a just, viable and functional solution in Cyprus to reunite the country under a federal roof.
In a statement on the occasion of today’s commencement of direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, the Greek Foreign Minister expresses hope that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side participate in this new process with the necessary political will.
“With today’s meeting between President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat a new effort begins in the UN framework to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem”, Bakoyianni notes.
She adds that the Cyprus problem is an issue of “invasion and occupation of a territory of an independent country, member of the UN and the EU, a problem which remains unresolved for thirty four years now”.
Bakoyianni expresses hope that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side participate in this new process with the necessary political will, with moderation and constructive stance so that this effort has a good outcome for the restoration of justice in Cyprus and the end of the division and the reunification of the island.
She reiterates Greece’s support towards this new effort for a just, viable and functional solution in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with one sovereignty, one nationality and one international personality, according to UN Security Council resolutions and EU principles.
The Greek Foreign Minister stresses that “a unified Cyprus would be to the benefit of stability in the Southeastern Mediterranean region and more importantly to the benefit of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who only through such a solution will be able to enjoy the benefits of Cyprus’ participation in the EU''.
The two leaders met Wednesday in the presence of UN Secretary General's Special Adviser for Cyprus Alexander Downer to mark the commencement of direct talks between them, aiming at reunifying Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied one third of the island’s territory.
