Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis picked up from where PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis left off on Saturday – speaking in Nicosia – stressing that a solution to the long-standing Cyprus problem is of the “highest policy priority for Greece’s foreign policy”.
Speaking on Monday to ERTnews and two days after the somber commemoration of the dour 50-year anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Gerapetritis warned that the Turkish side has now “veered to a more extremist position”.
He was referring to repeated statements by Turkish leaders, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that only a two-state solution is now acceptable for Ankara – the occupying power of some one-third of the island republic’s territory. The “two-state” solution, which flies in the face of UNSC resolutions regarding the Cyprus problem, is also parroted by the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot pseudo-state, which Turkey established in 1983 in the illegally occupied areas.
“A year ago we were in an inactive phase, where the Cyprus issue was not discussed at international fora … since then we have had a series of events that bring the Cyprus issue back to the forefront of international attention,” Gerapetritis said.
He also made reference to the recent emergence of activity by the UN chief’s office towards rekindling the process for Cyprus talks between the two communities on the island.
“I sense that there will be action regarding the Cyprus issue,” he noted, saying the first step is the commencement of dialogue between Greece and Turkey, but strictly within the framework of UN resolutions. “The solution will come after constant activity.”
