Source: CNA
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who met in Athens on Thursday, referred to the Cyprus issue during their joint statements to the press.
In statements after the High Level Cooperation Council Premier Mitsotakis said that "for us there is no other solution than the resolutions of the UN Security Council".
"The dialogue should resume from the point it was interrupted in 2017. Only through it (the dialogue) can there be substantial progress", the Greek Prime Minister stressed.
The President of Turkey said that "a lasting, just and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue will be to the benefit of the entire region".
In their statements, they also expressed satisfaction with the positive and constructive climate of both the bilateral meeting and the deliberations of the High Level Cooperation Council.
Mitsotakis noted that the talks were held in a very productive climate with new or updated agreements such as in the areas of economic cooperation, the exchange of know-how in agricultural production, the cooperation of scientists, agreements in the fields of tourism and immigration.
They also referred to the developments in the Middle East with different views but with a common position on the need to protect civilians.
Erdogan agreed with the Greek Prime Minister on the need to maintain open channels of communication.
We must live in peace, he said, agreeing with Mitsotakis, adding that it is natural for countries with such proximity to have disagreements, but said that dialogue, good neighborhood and international law can become the guide for the resolution of those disagreements.
The two leaders also signed a Declaration on Friendship and Good Neighborly Relations, which underlines the importance of effective communication channels at every level and emphasises on the avoidance of conflict situations and potential escalation.
The Declaration defines the principles and milestones of the Greek-Turkish dialogue based on the three axes that were agreed upon during the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Turkish President in Vilnius last July.
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.
