Greek side rules out ‘partitionist solutions’ in Cyprus

We will not accept, in any way, faits accomplis on the ground, Greek Foreign Minister, Georgios Gerapetritis, said on Tuesday, after a meeting in Nicosia with his Cypriot counterpart, Constantinos Kombos, noting that reaching a just solution to the Cyprus problem was Greece's “top national priority”. Kombos said Nicosia will never accept partitionist solutions.

Gerapetritis, who is on his first official visit abroad since assuming his duties as Foreign Minister, also stressed that Greece has been consistently supporting Cyprus in restarting efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.

Kombos, in his own statements, said that “Greece has been and remains our timeless support” as far as the Cyprus issue is concerned. He added that the reunification of Cyprus exclusively within the agreed UN framework, on the basis of a Bizonal Bicommunal Federation with political equality, as determined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, continues to be a common vision for the two countries.

He also said that they would never accept partitionist solutions or other similar approaches.

In his statements, Gerapetritis said that reaching a just, viable and mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus issue remains “a top national priority” for Greece's foreign policy. He expressed his support for a solution based on a Bizonal Bicommunal Federation within the framework defined by the decisions of the UN Security Council, adding that “an important goal is for Cyprus and the Cypriot people - Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots - to be rid of the Turkish occupation army, the anachronistic system of guarantees and anyone’s right to intervene in Cypriot affairs”.

He also referred to Athens’ and Nicosia’s coordination at all levels as regards the Cyprus problem and noted that they would not accept, in any way, faits accomplis on the ground.

Gerapetritis also noted that, at the recent European Council, the Greek Prime Minister expressed full support for Cyprus' request for a more active EU role based on the proposals of President Christodoulides, stressing that Greece will continue to offer the same firm support also within the UN context with full respect for the principles of international law as its axis.

The Greek Foreign Minister also said that Greece and Cyprus have deepened “in an exemplary way” the bilateral energy cooperation, on the green transition, as well as other issues of bilateral and international interest, such as the effective management of the migration issue and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He also referred to the trilateral and multilateral cooperation schemes in the eastern Mediterranean region and the wider Middle East, noting that “we are steadily seeking to consolidate a regional security framework through dialogue, cooperation and adherence of all sides to international law”.

Referring to Turkey, Gerapetritis expressed Greece's readiness to take advantage of the current positive climate and create conditions for a dialogue based on the Law of the Sea with the aim of settling the bilateral dispute on the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, “without this meaning that Greece will back down on its red lines and its national priorities”.

Kombos said that the active involvement of the EU, both in breaking the deadlock and during the negotiations, was of “top importance”. He noted that the Cyprus issue was again part of the agenda and that Nicosia’s approach was recognised and accepted. “A process to return to negotiations has begun”, he said, adding that “the Turkish stance will largely determine the outcome” while the Greek Cypriot side’s efforts would continue.

Referring to the developments in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, which were also discussed at the meeting, the Foreign Minister emphasised that Greece and Cyprus were “pillars of stability in the region” while they were at the forefront as regards the development of multilateral cooperation schemes, as a bridge between the countries of the region and the EU.

“We are working for the further development and deepening of these partnerships, so that the eastern Mediterranean and the wider region become a place of peace, stability and prosperity. We want to be, together, the catalyst of this effort”, he noted.

“Intimidating attitudes, revisionism, questioning and violation of international law do not fit into such a vision,”, Kombos added, underlining at the same time that the two countries’ common drive was full, and not selective or piecemeal compliance, with international law, European principles and values.

Kombos also said that during the meeting a “convergence of views” emerged on a series of issues concerning the European Union.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.