Greece, Cyprus set for closer cooperation

Following their meeting on Monday, Greece Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades reaffirmed the close cooperation between the two countries, noting it as a tool for promoting a just solution for Cyprus and in establishing broader regional cooperation.

"There is always close communication between our two governments," Tsipras said in a statement before the cameras as he received Anastasiades, before the start of their meeting. The Cypriot President, on his part noted that "our very close cooperation is the foundation for the efforts we are making to tackle both the Cyprus issue and other problems faced by the two countries."

The Greek Prime Minister noted that opportunities for discussion with Anastasiades also arose during their meetings at summits and added that "throughout this time we had the opportunity to make plans at close quarters for stability and peace in the wider region and to create the conditions for a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus issue."

"I think that our steadfast stance has created the conditions for a broader support  players for our efforts and for the recognition of this stance," he said.

Tsipras offered Anastasiades his assurance that in the new period they were now entering, when there had to be a discussion on the new challenges that had arisen and the way that these could be best tackled, "the Greek government and Greeks will always have confidence in the Cypriot government and the Cypriot people for their choices."

Anastasiades also agreed that the close cooperation developed by Athens and Nicosia in recent years had helped create broader regional and wider cooperation, and to "place the Cyprus issue on the right basis once again, in aspects that are important for the future."

He also emphasised the importance of meetings held in Athens and Nicosia, noting that these gave an "additional dimension" to this cooperation, and said their meeting allowed them to examine an entire range of issues ahead of the United Nations General Assembly and brief each other concerning developments related to the Cyprus issue, as well as to discuss their various trilateral and quadrilateral initiatives in the region.

"Let us hope that developments in New York are such that they help in starting a creative dialogue once again, provided the Secretary General finds that the conditions are right," he added.