Papandreou promises active involvement

The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou promised active involvement in the effort to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. Speaking before an extraordinary plenary session of the House of Representatives yesterday on his official visit to Cyprus, his first since taking office, he stressed that Greece's steadfast aim is to prevent the legitimization of the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus and to reverse its consequences.

Throughout his visit Papandreou said repeatedly that Greece was once again by the side of Cyprus, adding, “not just in words but in practice”. He highlighted that assisting President Demetris Christofias to achieve a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem based on the agreed parameters was a priority of his government.

Speaking at a joint press conference with President Christofias, he said Greece and Cyprus will “cooperate closely” on the Cyprus problem while keeping all options on the table until the EU’s December evaluation on Turkey’s accession path. He said it was necessary to utilise the European framework in the most effective way, adding that the European Council of December was important because Turkey’s EU course would be objectively assessed.

“The message I have conveyed to the people of Turkey was that we want you to be a friendly country, a country which has the right to join the EU but also one which I will always be sincere with, talking about the problems which divide us and which we have to solve,” he said. One of those problems, he said, is the Cyprus problem and the fact that “there is still occupation in the Republic of Cyprus”.

Papandreou called on Ankara to meet its obligations towards the EU, including normalising relations with Cyprus and contributing to a resolution of the Cyprus problem. “There is stagnation in Turkey’s accession process in relation to issues which the EU has set out for Turkey, and we need to give an impetus with a view to help not only Turkey’s EU course but also the settlement of major issues, such as the Cyprus question,” said Papandreou.