GREECE: Athens calls on Turkey to help find Cyprus solution

In response to a statement made by the new Prime Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglou, prior to his departure from Ankara to the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, that “the crisis in Cyprus is rooted in the Greek Cypriot side”, Athens has purposely, as CNA is informed, avoided to answer directly, not wishing to get engaged “in fruitless dialogue”.

Konstantinos Koutras, the spokesman of the Greek Foreign Ministry, outlined Greece’s general position concerning the Cyprus problem, repeated that Athens fully supports all efforts and initiatives by Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, and concluded that it’s up to Turkey to assist in achieving a “fair, lasting and viable solution” on the island.

«In the context of international law, Greece supports the Good Services Mission of the UN General Secretary and all the initiatives by the President of the Republic, Nikos Anastasiades, for a just and viable solution of the Cyprus Problem, on the basis of the resolutions of the Security Council of the UN, and the laws which apply in the European Union for all its country-members and citizens”, Koutras said.

«It is up to Turkey to assist in the achievement of a solution, by taking substantial measures aimed at the core of the problem, namely it’s occupation army which is still based on the island, it’s disrespect for the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, it’s ceaseless colonization of the occupied areas with settlers from mainland Turkey, and the non-productive attitude shown by the Turkish Cypriot side in the bicommunal talks», the Greek spokesman concluded.