Turkey holds key to Cyprus solution

The key to a solution of the Cyprus problem lies in Ankara, House President Marios Garoyian has stressed, during a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, on the last day of his official visit to the country.

Garoyian described the discussion with the Armenian Foreign Minister on the Cyprus issue as “very substantial, fruitful and constructive”, noting that they also discussed issues relating to Armenia, such as the country’s relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, as regards the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

“We had the opportunity to exchange some thoughts on efforts to achieve stability in the sensitive region of the Caucasus'', he added.

Garoyian briefed Nalbandian on the current phase of the Cyprus problem, and referred to the continuing Turkish intransigence.

He also talked about efforts undertaken by the President of the Republic of Cyprus and noted the constructive stance of the Greek Cypriot side at the peace talks, which began early September to reach a comprehensive solution and end the 34 years of Turkish occupation of the island’s northern third since 1974.

“Once again I stressed that the key to the solution of the Cyprus problem is in Ankara, which also holds the key to the resolution of other problems, such as the closed borders with Armenia and Turkey’s refusal to recognise the Armenian Genocide”, he underlined.

After the meeting with the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Garoyian paid a visit to the memorial of the Armenian Genocide, where he symbolically planted a tree as previous House Presidents had done.

Furthemore, Garogain visited the Patriarch of the Armenians and he was received by the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan marking the end of his visit to the country.

House President and his entourage return home on Friday.