Second Cyprus-Greece intergovernmental summit in Nicosia end of November

President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides and President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, announced that the second Cyprus-Greece intergovernmental summit will take place in Nicosia at the end of November.

The announcement was made after the two met on Monday afternoon at the Presidential Palace.

President Christodoulides underlined that the close coordination and longstanding cooperation between Cyprus and Greece is the strongest safeguard against any unfounded claims and expansionist ambitions.

President Sakellaropoulou emphasised that peace, cooperation, and prosperity cannot be achieved through violence or the use of force, and that illegality can never produce justice. She stated that open communication channels and a climate of calm in Greek-Turkish relations could create the necessary conditions for restarting dialogue on the Cyprus issue, always in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions. She also noted that progress in EU-Turkey relations is closel
y tied to progress on the Cyprus issue.

‘We expect the other side to take advantage of the opportunity by adopting a constructive approach to restart negotiations without preconditions or ultimatums,’ Sakellaropoulou stated.

During a joint press conference, the two leaders announced that the upcoming summit in Nicosia will include the Greek Prime Minister and relevant Ministers, underscoring the stabilising role that Greece and Cyprus play in the region.

President Christodoulides pointed out that Sakellaropoulou’s visit as the highest Greek state official carries not only symbolic significance but also substantial importance, as it coincides with a landmark year for Cyprus.

‘The year 2024 marks significant historical milestones for our country and Hellenism, as it commemorates 50 years since the tragic events of the summer of 1974 and 20 years since Cyprus’s accession to the European Union,’ he noted.

The President emphasised Greece’s steadfast support in defending Cyprus’s national interests, independen
ce, sovereignty, and territorial integrity over the years. He added that their close coordination and shared strategic goals at the regional and international levels are reflected in the country’s accession to the EU, which was the culmination of a joint effort by Athens and Nicosia to integrate Cyprus into the European family.

During Monday’s meeting, the two also discussed bilateral cooperation and reviewed the positive developments since the establishment of the intergovernmental cooperation framework in 2023.

‘This framework has given further impetus to our already strong bilateral cooperation and facilitated the exchange of expertise in crucial areas such as crisis management, civil protection, education, health, and digital governance,’ Christodoulides said.

He confirmed that Cyprus will host the second intergovernmental summit in Nicosia in November, attended by the Greek Prime Minister and other ministers.

Christodoulides briefed Sakellaropoulou on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issu
e, following his recent meetings in New York, including discussions with the UN Secretary-General. He reiterated that Cyprus remains committed to resuming negotiations within the framework defined by the Security Council and considering Cyprus’s status as an EU Member State.

The President emphasised that beyond being a matter of invasion and occupation, the Cyprus issue is also a European issue, and thus requires a European solution that respects the rights of all Cypriots as EU citizens.

The two Presidents also exchanged views on close EU cooperation, migration, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, discussing how Greece and Cyprus can contribute as pillars of stability.

‘To effectively address common crises and challenges, pan-European cooperation on defence and security is crucial, and both Greece and Cyprus are promoting this,’ Christodoulides noted, adding that Cyprus and Greece have a pivotal role in enhancing the EU’s presence in the strategically important regi
on of the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East.

In her speech, President Sakellaropoulou expressed her ‘deep emotion and pride’ in being in Cyprus to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus’s establishment. Despite the challenges it faced from its inception, and the ongoing Turkish occupation, Cyprus has set and achieved ambitious goals, she said.

She said despite the challenges it has faced since its establishment and despite the Turkish invasion and ongoing occupation, Cyprus “set ambitious goals and achieved them.” The Republic of Cyprus not only gained recognition and remains the only independent and legitimate state entity on the island, but, with the assistance of Greece, became a full member of the European Union 20 years ago, serving as a pillar of security and stability in the troubled region of the Eastern Mediterranean, she added.

This stabilising role of Cyprus, noted the President of the Hellenic Republic, is highlighted by the establishment and strengthening of C
yprus and Greece’s trilateral and multilateral regional partnerships. These frameworks are open to all neighboring countries, provided they respect international law and the Law of the Sea, she emphasized.

She also stated that her presence in Cyprus carries both a symbolic and substantive message, “that Greece and Cyprus, inextricably linked by historical and fraternal bonds, work closely together and confidently co-create a shared future of peace, stability, and prosperity in our region.”

Fifty years after the illegal Turkish invasion, she affirmed that Greece continues to declare in all directions that it remains a supporter and ally of the Republic of Cyprus in its ongoing struggle to end the occupation, achieve liberation, and reunify in a functional, European, and democratic state.

“It must be understood by all, especially by Turkey, that peace, cooperation, and prosperity cannot be achieved through violence and the use of arms. Illegality can never generate justice, particularly at a time when intern
ational law and human rights are being brutally violated in Ukraine and elsewhere. Any deviation from the mandates of international law and European legal order cannot be accepted. For this reason, divisive plans and efforts to create two states in Cyprus must be rejected,” Sakellaropoulou said.

She continued by saying that they agreed that maintaining communication channels and a climate of calm in Greek-Turkish relations could help create the conditions for restarting the dialogue on the Cyprus issue, always in line with UN Security Council resolutions. She added that it is now “clear” that the course of EU-Turkey relations is inextricably linked to progress on the Cyprus issue, as has been repeatedly highlighted by the European Council in its conclusions. “We therefore expect the other side to seize the opportunity and demonstrate the necessary constructive attitude so that the process of negotiations can resume without preconditions or ultimatums,” she stated.

Sakellaropoulou also expressed her satisfac
tion with the progress being made toward the important project of electrical interconnection between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, “which will strengthen our strategic position, end Cyprus’s energy isolation, and help reduce energy costs for consumers”.

She further stressed that beyond the fields of government cooperation, “the strength of Greece and Cyprus’s relationship lies, and will always remain, in our shared culture, common national origins, and the sincere, fraternal feelings of love between Greeks and Cypriots”.

Sakellaropoulou also congratulated Cyprus “for its steady and tangible commitment to helping address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.” From the beginning, Greece has supported these efforts in every way possible, efforts that highlight Cyprus’s significant regional role “and are appreciated by the entire international community,” she added.

Finally, she reminded everyone “of our duty to continue contributing in every possible way to the struggle of the families of the missing, until the fate
of the last one is clarified.”

When asked by a journalist for her message regarding the situation in the region and a potential escalation of the crisis, Sakellaropoulou responded that, unfortunately, the reality is unpredictable, “but we cannot and do not have the right to be pessimistic. We must always take a dynamic approach”.

She added that the only path is the one that Greece and Cyprus are following, “the path of dialogue, the effort for a peaceful resolution, and obviously the steps of humanitarian action during this dialogue, which we hope will be achieved.” “Of course, the core and unwavering principles are respect for international law and human rights. But I truly would not like to send any other message except the necessity for dialogue”, she concluded.

In response to a journalist’s observation that there are reports of a joint meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar despite Turkey’s insistence on its positions, and when asked if this poses risks, the President of Cyprus referred to his
contacts in New York. He said that he once again expressed to the UN Secretary-General his readiness for a joint meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader and Turkish officials, with the sole aim of restarting the talks.

“I am also pleased because from the discussions and contacts I had, the message from the international community is clear: there can be no resumption of negotiations or resolution of the Cyprus issue that falls outside the agreed framework,” he added.

He also said that the UN Secretary-General is acting within the framework of the UN resolutions and the UN Security Council. What I can say with certainty, he noted, is that the resumption of talks based on the idea of two states, as proposed by the other side, cannot be accepted. This is not only the position of Nicosia but also that of the international community, President Christodoulides concluded.

Source: Cyprus News Agency