Greek President: We have a united diplomatic front with Cyprus

The Greek President made her first official overseas with a visit to Cyprus.

"Your visit coincides with a period of crisis, which is caused as a result of Turkish aggression, Turkish illegal actions, both in the Aegean and in the Eastern Mediterranean," said the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis during his meeting with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who is paying an official visit to Cyprus.

"A series of actions that, if it were not for the calm response on the part of Greece, might have led to inevitably undesirable, for peoples who love peace, situations in the region," said Anastasiadis.

Welcoming the Greek President, Anastasiadis stated that the problems of the two countries are also problems of Europe because the borders of the two countries are also borders of Europe.

For her part, Sakellaropoulou stressed that her visit to Cyprus is indicative of the special relationship that connects the two countries and the importance that Greece attaches to the Cyprus issue.

"It is indeed a very difficult situation," she said.

"My visit emphasises that the two countries have a united diplomatic front, always guided by the common national interest and always based on international law," she continued. "We lived through difficult times, which you also mentioned, and no one can guarantee that they are over.

"The departure of the Oruç Reis is a step towards de-escalation, but it remains to be seen whether it was a tactic move possibly short-term or a choice that has a horizon and continuity," she questioned.

However, despite the claims of Greece and Cyprus having a united diplomatic front, today Cyprus stood alone in its veto of sanctions against Belarus in an EU foreign ministers meeting, as reported by Greek City Times.

Turkey has de-escalated its aggression against Greece by withdrawing its research vessel and warships out of Greece’s maritime space and continental shelf, but continues to violate Cypriot sovereignty, prompting Nicosia to not accept sanctions on Belarus unless there are also sanctions against Turkey.