Cyprus, Greece mount pressure for revision of EUCO conclusions

Cyprus and Greece mounted pressure on Wednesday for a revision of the draft European Council conclusions on Turkey, arguing that they should better reflect the stance taken by the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in his recent report.

In a meeting in Athens on Wednesday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, who was in the Greek capital for the celebrations of Greece’s bicentennial of the 1821 Greek Revolution.

Anastasiades said in statements that the two discussed the upcoming European Council and preparations for the informal Geneva conference on the Cyprus issue scheduled for late April.

“We want to ensure the success of the conference so that we will be able to proceed with talks on Cyprus with an aim to resolve the issue in line with UN resolutions”, Anastasiades said, adding the aim is a functional and viable state based on EU principles.

He also underlined that during his meeting with Mitsotakis, both agreed on a common line on handling issues on the European Council agenda.

“The communique should be in line with the Borrell report. I want to believe that a consensus will be achieved, which will make Ankara understand that if it wants to be in line with the EU, it should be able to accept Europe’s preconditions and principles for peace in the Mediterranean,” Anastasiades added.

On his part, Mitsotakis said they discussed preparations in view of the conference and underlined that both leaders insist on the need for the EU to participate.

"We also agreed that at tomorrow’s Summit we must insist on a dual approach on Turkey. We welcomed the content of the Borrell report and stressed the need for the conclusions to move in this direction," Mitsotakis added.

Turkey’s provocations against Cyprus undermine its European prospects as well as Cyprus negotiations. “A proof of this, is its refusal to conform with the Varosha resolutions”, the Greek Premier stressed.

He added that it is up to Turkey to continue de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean and to prove that it is not a trick. Otherwise, there will be sanctions, the Greek PM said, adding the aim is to resume negotiations on Cyprus on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation and UN Security Council resolutions.

Demands for a two-state solution are outside the EU and UN framework and are rejected, Mitsotakis stressed. The common position is an abolition of guarantees, the withdrawal of occupation troops from the island.

“We want a good relation with our neighbours. Greece is sincere but not naïve,” Mitsotakis remarked.