NICOSIA – A few days before the five-party meeting that will convene March 17-18 in Geneva to discuss the Cyprus Problem, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece and Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, confirmed the joint steps Greece and Cyprus are committed to regarding the Cyprus issue when they met on March 8 at the Maximos Mansion in Athens.

The Cypriot President reiterated the clear position that anything that falls outside the agreed UN framework is not even up for discussion, stressing, at the same time, that Nicosia’s goal is to resume the talks from the point where they were interrupted in 2017.

Referring to the importance of the meeting in Geneva, Christodoulides underlined that the Cypriot Government aims to utilize the achievements of the talks with the sole aim of resolving the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework and the principles and values of the EU.

“Especially in a period when attempts are being made to question basic principles of International Law, such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Geneva meeting is of particular importance,” stressed Christodoulides.

He also referred to an upcoming international conference. “I consider it a fortunate coincidence that, after Geneva, we will once again have a regular European Council, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, where I will have the opportunity to inform all colleagues. The European Union supports this effort by the United Nations to achieve a solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the agreed framework. I would like to state publicly today that anything that falls outside the agreed framework is not even a matter for discussion and I am glad that this is also the position of the international community,” the President of Cyprus underlined.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, the Greek Prime Minister welcomed Christodoulides’ efforts to keep the dialogue alive with the aim of a just and sustainable solution and reiterated that Greece will be supportive of the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus.

Following their private meeting, an expanded gathering followed in the presence of the delegations.

A Specific Plan and Proposals for Geneva

On March 9 in Nicosia – upon arriving at the inauguration ceremony of the renovated Byzantine Museum – Christodoulides stressed the Greek Cypriot side is going to Geneva with a specific plan and specific proposals that it will submit to the discussion table.

Although, as he mentioned, Turkish intransigence is there, the bilateral meetings that will take place, especially with the UN Secretary General, are of decisive importance.

“What is the choice before us? To keep talking about Turkish intransigence or to do everything possible on our part to end the occupation and reunify our homeland,” he asked. At the end of the day, he stressed, “it is our homeland under occupation, so, at the very least, we must do everything possible.” He goes to Geneva fully aware of the Turkish intransigence, “but at the same time I am also aware of my obligation towards the Cypriot people.”

Asked whether during the meeting he had on March 8 with Mitsotakis he discussed the issue of the Cyprus-Crete electrical interconnection, the President of the Republic replied that no, it was not a subject of discussion. “Yesterday the subject of discussion was exclusively the expanded meeting, which will take place in Geneva,” he said.

New Challenges to European Security

In Athens, regarding the recent EU Summit Christodoulides made special reference to the initiative of Athens and Nicosia on the need to strengthen European defense and security and underlined its importance by noting that he EU also faces threats in the Eastern Mediterranean, in addition to those pertaining to the situation in Ukraine.

Welcoming Christodoulides Mitsotakis emphasized that the recent European Council in Brussels justified the Greek positions regarding the need for more investments by the member states in defense, as well as the protection of all the borders of the EU.

Asked to comment on the signing of an agreement between an Italian and Turkish company for the construction of unmanned aerial vehicles, the Christodoulides said that “it is not the first time that Turkey cooperates with EU member states on defence equipment and Turkey does whatever it needs to do for its own interests, to strengthen its defence industry.” The same, he continued, is true of Italy and other member states. “If my memory serves me correctly, the country that has the closest defense cooperation with Turkey is Spain, followed by Italy,” he added.

“What I said (at the European Council) is that EU money in relation to investment in this sector – and it is something that was also a common belief, a common result of the discussion that took place – must strengthen European defense cooperation. Because as an EU, if we continue to depend on third countries in relation to our defense, our energy, raw materials, we will never achieve the goal of strategic autonomy,” Christodoulides further stated.