Dendias to Cavusoglu: Greece is not going to enter into a perpetual exchange of letters

Response to Mevlut Cavusoglu’s “threats” for sending a new letter to UN regarding the Greek islands, the Minister of Foreign Affairs gave from Cyprus Nikos Dendias. As stated by the head of Greek diplomacy, the Hellas it does not intend to enter into a perpetual process of exchanging letters with Turkey, on issues that have been answered.

In his statements after the meeting with his Cypriot counterpart, Ioannis Kasoulidis, Mr. Dendias referred to the Cypriot issue, reiterating the fixed position of Greece and Cyprusrejecting – once again – the two-state solution proposed by the Turkish side.

In more detail, the statements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs from Cyprus:

“Dear Minister, my dear Giannakis,

It is my great pleasure to be in Nicosia today, a few months have passed since my last visit, a month since the visit of Prime Minister Mitsotakis.

And, of course, I wanted to thank you warmly for the great honor I had to address earlier to the heads of the Foreign Authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.

The Greek government continues its undivided support for the achievement of a just and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue. A solution based on the Resolutions of the UN Security Council. A solution compatible with the European Acquis, i.e. a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation.

The resolution of the Cyprus issue, in this context, is the highest priority of Greek foreign policy.

Thank you very much for the update on the Confidence Building Measures proposals tabled by President Anastasiades. Proposals that the President himself was kind enough to develop for me during the meeting we had this morning. We fully support these proposals, despite the expected, and we regret, their rejection by the Turkish-Cypriot side.

We share your realistic approach regarding the prospects for the resumption of negotiations, which of course, unfortunately, are not favorable.

And of course, we reject and condemn any proposal for a “two-state solution”, which is advocated by Turkish officials and representatives of the Turkish-Cypriot community.

I want to maintain, if I have to find a positive point, that the debate on the new text of the Resolution on the renewal of UNFICYP in the Security Council was conducted in a consensual atmosphere, despite the general polarization prevailing at this time.

I want to assure that we are always in constant and close coordination, especially under the threat of attempts to create new acts both on land and at sea, despite International Law and despite the International Law of the Sea, the UNCLOS.

I remind you that the relevant decisions of the European Union are valid and we expect the Turkey to comply with these decisions.

But we had the opportunity, beyond the Cyprus issue, to discuss the broader developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. I had the opportunity to inform about the Turkish provocation, both at the rhetorical level and on the ground.

But, our discussions are not always monothematic.

We also looked at our cooperation within the European Union in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

And, as you rightly were kind enough to observe, Ukraine and Cyprus are cases of flagrant violation of International Law.

But that’s where the similarity ends.

Because 48 years ago, the International Community did not react to the invasion of Cyprus in the way it should have reacted.

And we must remember that the invasion and illegal occupation of territories in Ukraine is not the only example of invasion in Europe.

As, also, we must not fail to underline that revisionism has ceased to be an acceptable practice, and also, even passively, it is not possible for the International Community to accept it.

Both the Greek and the Republic of Cyprus maintained a position of principle.
We both fully implement the European sanctions despite the costs they mean for our societies.

Because for us, this decision is a one-way street. It is about our values ​​and principles, it is about the values ​​and principles that all states must respect.

We also discussed our cooperation in various fields, we discussed tripartite and multilateral schemes, the “3+1” scheme with the USA, our developing relations with India, the European perspective of the Western Balkans.

We are both pleased with the convening of the first intergovernmental conference with Albania and the North Macedonia.

We both know very well that the pace of integration of the region into the European family needs to be accelerated and we had the opportunity to discuss how we can help the Western Balkans to come into closer contact with the EU. We can become a catalyst for this.

I had the opportunity to report on what was delivered at the NATO Summit in Madrid.

Also, let me say that, also within the framework of NATO, Greece will ensure that the interests of Cyprus are protected in their entirety and within the framework of EU-NATO cooperation.

I conclude with the self-evident, as the Minister also said.

Greece will always continue to be on the side of the Republic of Cyprus. Greece will always continue to stand by the Cypriot people.

Thank you very much for the hospitality and, if you will allow me to say, the love that I receive every time I come here to Cyprus”.

The answer Dendias to Tsavousoglou

To a question about the possibility of Turkey sending a new letter to the UN about the islands in the Aegean, as stated by the Turkish counterpart of Mevlut Cavusoglu, Mr. Dendias replied that Greece does not intend to enter into a perpetual exchange of letters on issues that have been answered.

Journalist: Mr. Dendia, your Turkish counterpart intends to send a letter to the United Nations about the Turkish positions. How will you answer for this?

N. Dendias: We will first see what it is about. Greece has responded.
The last Greek letter is eminently sufficient for the whole of the arguments, and Greece is not going to waste her time in a perpetual exchange of letters with Turkey. If, of course, the Turkish side presents some new argument that needs an answer, it will be answered. But, I think, you will allow me to say, what has to be said, has been said about these things.

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