16.9 C
Nicosia
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Latest News

Powered by:

Cyprus – Greece working closely towards wider regional collaboration and stability

Relevant News

Gyprus’ Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Christodoulides and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias spoke on Tuesday of the close cooperation of the two countries to lay the foundation for a greater collaboration in the region, bringing security and stability to it.

At a joint press conference in Nicosia following expanded contacts between delegations, Christodoulides said that “we consider that developments in the region will to a large extent affect the future of the EU-Turkish relations”, noting that “our approach in regards to EU-Turkish relations and the relations of the EU with any other state is a two-fold one, a carrot and stick approach where there can be cooperation wherever there is will towards this end, but also a substantive reaction when basic EU principles and values are violated.”

Dendias said they “discussed bilateral relations and our collaboration in the framework of a joint point of view we maintain and cultivate with countries of the area who share the same values and points of view as us. It is common knowledge that these collaborations contribute to maintaining peace and stability in our region.”

Speaking of Turkish provocative behaviour in the region, the Greek FM said its escalation “runs against the EU and should result in an escalation of the European reaction.”

He added this would be discussed at leadership level by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades at the MED7 Summit in Corsica and the extraordinary European Council Summit.

The aggressive behaviour, Dendias noted, “shows disdain at clear stances by the EU, the US and the countries of our region,” and he mentioned specifically the illegal Turkish activity within the Cyprus exclusive economic zone and the Greek continental shelf.

An insistence on illegal behaviour does not create fait accompli, he said, adding that Greece itself “has always been a proponent of dialogue”.

Cyprus’ Christodoulides spoke of the daily communication between the two foreign ministries, and the commitment of both towards creating conditions of security and stability in the area.

The initiatives both countries have undertaken look towards establishing the foundation for collaborations in the area without a priori exclusions, in order to turn the region into a model of collaboration between countries, he noted.

“We believe in and are truly working in this direction,” Christodoulides underlined, “since it is the only prospect that serves the interests of all countries long term.”

He also said that despite the negative developments in the area because of the behaviour of one country, and despite the volatile international conditions, diplomacy does not recognise irresolvable issues.

“Even if it is not obvious right now, this is temporary and what is needed is decisiveness, patience, persistence and very clear goals. If there is true commitment and will by all sides, dialogue can bring results,” he said, citing as examples Cyprus’ agreements with Israel, Egypt and Lebanon on maritime boundaries based on International Law and the Law of the Sea which it is prepared to work towards with the rest of its neighbouring countries.

(CNA/amna.gr)

Follow in-cyprus on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.