Before their meeting in Athens, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the Cyprus issue in separate interviews. Gerapetritis, speaking to Hurriyet, suggested that improved Greco-Turkish relations have created a more positive environment for addressing the Cyprus question. He pointed to the informal meeting with the UN Secretary-General and Cypriot representatives as a first step towards renewed negotiations. Gerapetritis believes a unified Cyprus within the EU would benefit its citizens and serve as a powerful global symbol.
Meanwhile, Fidan, in an interview with Athens' "NΕΑ" newspaper, asserted that Cyprus consists of two distinct peoples and two separate states, suggesting they could coexist as neighbors.
In short, Gerapetritis emphasizes the potential benefits of a unified European Cyprus, while Fidan appears to favor a two-state solution.