Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece and Cyprus “align their common goals on a path of development and prosperity,” emphasizing the strategic importance of the Cyprus-Greece electricity interconnection project, during a joint press conference with the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides in the framework of the 2nd Greece-Cyprus Intergovernmental Conference.
President Christodoulides highlighted progress in bilateral cooperation, citing advancements in digital technology transfer and civil protection. He noted agreements on organ transplantation and collaboration in the pharmaceutical sector, including joint procurement and addressing shortages.
In education, Christodoulides welcomed the establishment of branches of Cypriot universities in Greece and Greek universities in Cyprus.
“We are navigating a critical period in a constantly shifting global landscape. The war in Ukraine and upcoming leadership changes in the U.S. demand closer coordination between our countries,” Christodoulides noted.
“We are two nations with excellent relations with our neighbors, proving ourselves as pillars of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. Through actions, we have demonstrated our ability to strengthen our geopolitical footprint,” Christodoulides stated.
Mitsotakis expressed satisfaction with the ceasefire in Lebanon, underscoring Greece and Cyprus’ joint efforts to prevent the crisis from escalating into a regional conflict, while voicing hope for a similar resolution in Gaza.
The Greek Prime Minister noted a favorable momentum for resuming negotiations on the Cyprus issue after years of stagnation. “There are some signs of progress. Our steadfast goal is a viable solution based on United Nations Security Council resolutions. Together with President Christodoulides, we reaffirmed our alignment that we will not accept the legitimization of faits accomplis or the perpetuation of a 50-year tragedy.”
“The current calm in Greece-Turkey relations could assist the Cyprus issue. However, we are not under the illusion that improved relations mean a change in Turkey’s positions. We remain unwavering on sovereignty issues. Whoever is strong and has arguments should not hesitate to present them in an honest dialogue, Mitsotakis noted,
The Greek PM emphasized that institutionalizing Greece-Cyprus relations through regular intergovernmental meetings was a priority from the outset of his term, adding, “These meetings are about substance, not communication.”
