The messages sent to Ankara by the Prime Minister during his meeting with Cypriot President Anastasiades.
“We hope, we encourage the European Union to take bold initiatives – as we have discussed many times – because without a European response it is very difficult to tame this explosive rise in natural gas prices” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized during his meeting with the President of Republic of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis. “I am personally happy, as Greek Prime Minister, that many of the proposals we have submitted to the European Union are currently being processed by the European Commission. I point out, however, that we are late and that we must do everything possible to gain the lost ground” he added.
Also, Mr. Mitsotakis underlined that with stability, self-confidence and adherence to international law we respond to any rhetorical extremes of Turkey which, unfortunately, as he characteristically said, have recently exceeded all limits. “This does not mean, however, that we, in any way, will change the responsible attitude with which we deal with all these issues,” he said.
President Anastasiades referring to the donation of the aircraft by the Greek government said “on behalf of both the Cypriot people and the government, but also myself personally, I want to thank you very much. We were perhaps the only one of the countries of the European Union and not only that, which did not have the means of transport of the respective President of the Republic and the most important thing is, due to the isolation of the Republic of Cyprus, a normal trip to Brussels could mean an extra two days in visit”.
“You have rightly pointed out and I am sincerely glad that many of the initiatives you are taking are being adopted. And with regard to the European Union, but especially with regard to the sanctions that are imposed, most of which are unfortunately not targeted, they mainly affect the European states, instead of the target should have been the regime of Russia, which is also to blame for the war” added Mr. Anastasiadis.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Cyprus had the following dialogue:
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Welcome once again to Athens and to the Maximos Palace today, on a very happy occasion, as the Hellenic Republic will hand over to the Republic of Cyprus one of our government aircraft. It is the minimum return to the constant generosity of Cyprus which stood by our homeland even after the devastating fires in Mati. I consider it very important, in addition to facilitating the Cypriot President’s movements, that the wings, the name of Cyprus, the flag of Cyprus, should be imprinted on a government aircraft of the Republic of Cyprus.
We will have the opportunity, of course, to discuss the rest of the developments which, unfortunately, due to the war in Ukraine, on the economic front at least, are set to be gloomy.
We hope, we encourage the European Union to take bold initiatives – as we have discussed many times – because without a European response it is very difficult to tame this explosive rise in natural gas prices.
I am personally happy, as Greek Prime Minister, that many of the proposals we have submitted to the European Union are currently being processed by the European Commission. I point out, however, that we are late and that we must do everything possible to gain the lost ground.
We will, of course, also discuss the developments in the wider neighborhood of the Eastern Mediterranean. We repeat once again that with stability, self-confidence and adherence to International Law we respond to any rhetorical extremes of Turkey which, unfortunately, have recently exceeded all limits. This does not mean, however, that we, in any way, will change the responsible attitude with which we deal with all these issues.
So again, welcome and glad to welcome you once again in Athens.
Nikos Anastasiadis: Mr. Prime Minister, my dear Kyriakos, it is really with special emotion and special sensitivity that the Republic of Cyprus accepts the very important donation of the Greek Government. And therefore, on behalf of both the Cypriot people and the Government, as well as myself personally, I want to sincerely thank you. We were perhaps the only one of the countries of the European Union and not only that, which did not have the means of transport of the respective President of the Republic and the most important thing is, due to the isolation of the Republic of Cyprus, a normal trip to Brussels could mean an extra two days in visit.
Therefore, it is very important and we have decided on this donation – and especially now that I am leaving the Presidency and there will be no one to suspect that I did it for him – but this plane will not only be for the transportation of the President, government officials, but also in exceptional cases required for humanitarian, health reasons, etc. Therefore, my grateful thanks are a genuine expression of exactly what Cyprus needed and for many and various reasons unfortunately it was not implemented.
It is at the same time a – if you like – reciprocation of the reciprocity that exists between us at critical times. And I am sure that I will soon be in Athens again to lay the foundation stone of the neighborhood in Mati, an important, in my opinion, contribution to those who then suffered the tragic consequences of an unforeseen fire.
But you have rightly pointed out that the opportunity given today, in view of the European Council, the ongoing situation with the war in Ukraine, the United Nations Summit together will give us the opportunity to discuss issues that need coordination, taking into account of course the threats received by both Cyprus and Greece and not only, from an otherwise candidate country for joining the European Union.
You have rightly pointed out and I am sincerely glad that many of the initiatives you are taking are being adopted. And with regard to the European Union, but especially with regard to the sanctions that are imposed, most of which are unfortunately not targeted, they mainly affect the European states, instead of the target should have been the regime of Russia, which is also to blame for the war.
We will have the opportunity to chat to see how we face in the European Council in a coordinated manner some things that are not for the technocrats, because they also have a political dimension.
On the other hand, I think that our close cooperation in dealing with threats, as well as the exploitation of the region’s natural wealth, is very important for both our countries and the European Union. I want to thank once again and express my satisfaction because the close cooperation between us has really paid off and is paying off. Thank you Kyriakos.
RES-EMP
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