“Turkey is making no contribution to efforts for a viable and functional solution to the Cyprus issue,” Greek Foreign Minister Stavross Dimas said after meeting with Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias, during his visit in Cyprus this week.

“Based on current facts we cannot be optimistic that a solution will be reached soon,” Dimas told reporters after the meeting.

“Turkey could make steps toward a solution and abstain from actions, particularly in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), that feed tension,” Dimas pointed out. He stressed that Athens supports the efforts made by President Christofias and added that Turkey needs to reconsider its stance. He termed his meeting with President Christofias useful and constructive, stressing that they discussed issues and problems of the greater region. He underlined that Greece supports the reunification of Cyprus through a viable, functional and fair solution based on the UN resolutions and the European Union (EU) principles.

Dimas also met with his Cypriot counterpart Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, who stressed that arbitration or mediation by the UN is out of the question, adding that the imposition of any solution plan by the UN is ruled out. Referring to the international conference issue, she said that the UN have already clarified that there will be no such conference if there is no prior agreement on the internal aspects of the Cyprus issue. She also said that no convergence is expected by January. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Yiannakis Omirou stressed after meeting with foreign minister Dimas that the solution of the Cyprus issue remains a top priority for the Greek government.

Source: Athens News