Cyprus is not bound by Greece’s decision to support the Turkish IMO candidacy

Nicosia keeps its distance from Athens about the Turkish candidacy for the General Secretariat of the IMO.

We are not bound by Greece’s decision to support the Turkish candidacy for the General Secretariat of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). We certainly cannot support Turkey’s candidacy, Government Spokesman Constantinos Letymiotis told KYPE.

He notes, however, that the improvement of Greek-Turkish relations is seen as a positive development, that Nicosia had been informed of Athens’ support for Turkey’s candidacy for the IMO and also of Turkey’s support for Greece’s campaign for the position of a non-permanent member of the Council Security.

The Spokesperson also reiterates that Nicosia-Athens relations were and remain close and excellent.

Mr Letympiotis, commenting on the front page of the “Simerini” newspaper about Nicosia’s disagreement with Athens on the support to Turkey for the IMO, told the KYPE that the climate that developed after the catastrophic earthquakes in Greece-Turkey relations is judged as positive and indicative is that there is a recession and even abstinence from provocative actions on the part of Turkey.

“The improvement of Greek-Turkish relations is a positive development for peace and security in the region, within the framework of international law, but also for the efforts to restart negotiations and resolve the Cyprus problem,” he said.

The Government Spokesperson noted that within this framework of relations between the two countries, Turkey’s support for Greece in the campaign for the position of non-permanent member of the UN Security Council 2025-2026 was announced and Greece’s support for the Turkish candidacy for the General Secretariat of the IMO.

“Movements agreed upon during the visit of the Greek Foreign Minister to Turkey after the devastating earthquakes and about which the Cypriot government was informed before the official announcements. As Cyprus, we are not bound by Greece’s decision in any way, and we certainly cannot support Turkey’s candidacy. We are examining our options as the Republic of Cyprus and how the certain timetable will shape them”, noted Mr Letympiotis, speaking to KYPE.

Mr Letymiotis reiterated that the Nicosia-Athens relations were and remain close and excellent and that the supreme common national goal is the solution of the Cyprus problem, based on the bizonal bicommunal federation, following the resolutions of the Security Council.

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