Greek PM honors Cyprus' heroes

On October 11th and 12th, the first intergovernmental meeting between Cyprus and Greece was held in Greece. President Nikos Christodoulides and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced this after concluding their meeting at the Presidential Palace. President Christodoulides stated that the Republic of Cyprus will cover the cost of reforestation in the areas of Rhodes affected by the fires. Both leaders expressed the view that any progress in Greek-Turkish relations would benefit the resolution of the Cyprus issue. They also assured that Athens and Nicosia continue to work in absolute coordination.

Following the private meeting, expanded discussions took place in the form of a working lunch. On October 11-12, the Supreme Council of Cyprus-Greece met.

After their private meeting at the Presidential Palace, Nikos Christodoulides said: "Our cooperation and coordination will be further strengthened. I want to announce that the Republic of Cyprus will cover the cost of reforesting the areas affected by the fire in Rhodes. Today's visit comes at a critical time regarding the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations. We had a constructive discussion. Our bilateral ties extend to various issues. During our previous meeting, we agreed to establish a supreme coordination body between Greece and Cyprus. We agreed today that the first intergovernmental meeting will take place on October 11-12 in Greece. We share the same perspective that any progress in Greek-Turkish relations is beneficial for the resolution of the Cyprus issue. The trilateral summit with Israel will take place at the end of August or early September. Migration flows require a unified European response."

On his part, Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated: "Our close government cooperation will be further solidified through the establishment of the Supreme Council of Greece-Cyprus. We jointly decided that it would be a good idea to hold it in Rhodes. Athens and Nicosia will continue to work in absolute coordination. Regarding the Cyprus issue, we continue to seek a fair and mutually acceptable solution based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation. The only way is for negotiations to resume under the auspices of the UN.

The apparent improvement in Greek-Turkish and Euro-Turkish relations is an opportunity we must embrace. Improving Euro-Turkish relations can have a positive impact on the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations. Concerning migration, we need to dismantle the abhorrent networks of smugglers exploiting people. In this challenging time, Greece and Cyprus are factors of geopolitical stability in the region." Mitsotakis emphasized that Greece's support for any initiative undertaken by the Republic of Cyprus regarding the Cyprus issue is a given and self-evident, despite some obstacles that certain parties try to create in the relations between the two countries. "The cooperation between the two governments is excellent."

The leaders of Cyprus and Greece referred to further cooperation between the two countries in their statements before their private meeting at the Presidential Palace, during the official visit of the Greek Prime Minister to Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said, "We will announce some specific decisions and actions that will demonstrate our strong belief in further cooperation. The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, "The cooperation between the two governments is excellent, and we will strive to build an even more solid institutional framework for our collaboration." Welcoming the Greek Prime Minister to Cyprus, President Christodoulides said, "I am sure that our exceptional cooperation will continue and be further strengthened. Through our discussions today, I am confident that we will announce specific decisions and actions that will prove our strong belief in further cooperation."

 He said that the presence of the Greek Prime Minister in Cyprus is not only of symbolic importance, especially in the current circumstances, "taking into account all the challenges and opportunities ahead of us. I look forward to our discussions, both privately and later with the delegations, to see how through our joint actions, Cyprus and Greece, Greece and Cyprus, can demonstrate in practice what we truly desire - to be pillars of security and stability in the region."

"We are in a region of particular geopolitical significance, and we want to work with all our neighbors, without exception. All it takes is to work with a positive approach and always respect international law."

The Greek Prime Minister thanked for the warm welcome and said, "I regret that I had to postpone this trip for a few days due to the difficult situations we had to deal with in the homeland with the fires we had to manage last week." However, he added, "It is not just my obligation but, I would say, a practical recognition of this unique relationship between Greece and Cyprus that the first official bilateral trip of the new Greek Prime Minister takes place here in Cyprus."

Agreement with President Christodoulides that the current geopolitical conditions in the broader region present new challenges but also potentially new opportunities. He assured that "the cooperation between our two Governments is excellent, and we will strive to build an even stronger institutional framework for how we collaborate, not only on current and significant matters concerning foreign policy but also on a broader range of issues that I believe require even better coordination between our two Governments."

Therefore, he added, we will always be in absolute coordination regarding the significant developments ahead, including the discussions and decisions at the United Nations General Assembly and important matters at the European level. He emphasized that we will never step back from the decisions of the United Nations Organization and from our commitment to international law. "These two constants, these two principles, define the way we perceive developments in the broader region," concluded the Greek Prime Minister.

The Greek Prime Minister arrived at the Presidential Palace, where he was welcomed by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides. President Christodoulides welcomed Mr. Mitsotakis upon his arrival at the Presidential Palace, and afterward, the Greek Prime Minister laid a wreath at the statue of President Makarios. During the reception ceremony, the Police Philharmonic played the National Anthem. Honors were given by the National Guard.

After the Tomb of Makedonitissa, Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Imprisoned Monuments, where he was received by the Minister of Justice, Anna Kukkidi Procopiou. The Greek Prime Minister laid a wreath and signed the guestbook, writing, "The new children who gave their lives in the struggle for Cyprus' independence are a constant source of inspiration for us. They also remind us that we will not stop until their fight for the definitive end of the invasion and occupation is vindicated." One minute of silence was observed, and the National Anthem was sung.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Tomb of Makedonitissa, marking the beginning of his official visit to Cyprus. He was received by the Minister of Defense, Michalis Georgallas, and the Chief of the National Guard, Major General Demokritos Zervakis. The Prime Minister laid a wreath and signed the guestbook. One minute of silence was observed, and the National Anthem was sung. In the guestbook at the Tomb, the Greek Prime Minister wrote, "In memory of those who gave their lives in the ongoing struggle for freedom."