Greece to continue to expose and point out Turkish provocations

Greece's Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Wednesday said that Greece will continue to point out Turkey's unacceptable behaviour to its European partners and at international forums, during joint statements after his meeting with the new Foreign Minister of Cyprus Ioannis Kasoulides, in Athens.

Dendias also reiterated Greece's intention to engage in "sincere and contructive dialogue within the institutional frameworks with Turkey, always with respect for international Law and the Law of the Sea."

Referring to the arrival from France of the first six Rafale fighter aircraft on Wednesday, Dendias said it was "a day of special importance for Greece," adding that the planes signified "the strong ties and strategic relations between Greece and France".

Dendias reassured Kasoulides that "the Greek government, the Mitsotakis government and myself personally will continue their unconditional support for achieving a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue. A solution based on UN Security Council resolutions, which will be fully compatible with the European acquis. A bizonal, bicommunal federation."

On his part, Kasoulides underlined that Greece was and remains a steadfast and constant support for Cyprus. "We exchanged views on a wide range of issues from the Cyprus problem, the trilateral cooperation schemes and the ongoing Turkish provocativeness but also regional, European and international issues of mutual interest".

Kasoulides said that "Greece and Cyprus share an automatic coordination and deliberation mechanism for both national and European and regional issues".

He referred to Turkish violations of internatioal law which, as he said, create an adverse environment which Greece and Cyprus have to contend with.

Finally, Kasoulides said that the "aim of the Cyprus Republic was and remains a viable solution of the Cyprus issue based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions".