Greek, Turkish foreign ministers discuss Cyprus problem

The Cyprus downside was among the many points mentioned throughout the two-hour assembly international ministers of Greece and Turkey had on Friday, in Athens, the place they expressed their differing positions on the decades-old subject.

“In a world stuffed with divisions, a united European Cyprus, aside from the circumstances of prosperity it could create for its residents, could be an especially vital common image,” Greece’s International Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis mentioned.

“Greece’s positions on the Cyprus downside are well-known. We help an answer inside the framework of the Safety Council Resolutions based mostly on a bicommunal bizonal federation. We hope that the current casual assembly in New York will create the circumstances for the resumption of dialogue.”

On his half, Fidan, didn’t make a direct reference to a two-state answer, however excluded the potential of the federation mannequin.

Turkey’s stance is obvious and agency, he underlined. “It has been confirmed over time that the mannequin of the federation is now not relevant on the island. A brand new spirit is required to make sure the safety, freedom and prosperity of each Turks and Greeks on the island.”

In a joint press convention, each ministers admitted to disagreements over points surrounding the designation of their maritime boundaries, however pledged talks will proceed.

The 2 ministers tried an preliminary strategy on a “powerful and essential subject”, however their positions nonetheless differ and the difficulty could be mentioned once more at a future assembly, Gerapetritis mentioned.

Greece says that the 2 international locations solely want to debate the difficulty of designating an unique financial zone and continental shelf boundaries. Turkey recognises a optimistic momentum in relations however says that extra points have to be placed on the desk.

“There are numerous points linked to one another within the Aegean that we have to work on and search options for. We can not group all of them as solely maritime delimitation or unique financial zones,” Fidan mentioned.

Athens and Ankara say they wish to preserve channels of communication open, enhance commerce volumes and work on points which have saved them aside, notably within the Aegean Sea. In addition they plan tighter cooperation on safety and migration.

Greece and Turkish officers will maintain one other spherical of talks in Athens on December 2-3, Gerapetritis mentioned, as the 2 international locations put together for a high-level cooperation council in Turkey early subsequent yr.

Each ministers mentioned they hoped Ankara and Athens may resolve their points by dialogue, earlier than wrapping up the press convention with a uncommon hug on stage.