By Athena Karsera
GREECE and Cyprus yesterday signed a memorandum for co-operation on EU related issues on all levels.
The document was signed by Greece’s alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis and Cyprus Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides.
Speaking to reporters, the two Ministers said their meeting yesterday had been especially useful. Cassoulides said that they had discussed the Joint Defence Pact between the two countries, Cyprus’ EU accession and the Cyprus problem.
He said that the new protocol’s purpose was to demonstrate the good relations that existed between Cyprus and Greece.
He added a follow-up meeting would take place in Greece in the near future.
Kranidiotis said the Cyprus problem remained a top priority for Greece: “We want a united Cyprus where Greek and Turkish Cypriots live together peacefully under the UN umbrella.”
He said his country’s strategy on the issue was based on four axes: closer co-operation between Cyprus and Greece, promotion of Cyprus’ European accession course, pressing on with a resumption of dialogue on the Cyprus problem and strengthening the Republic’s military deterrent within the framework of the Joint Defence Pact.
The Greek minister said was constantly making efforts to prompt the international community to take more action on the Cyprus problem, “with the same sensitivity for Cyprus as in Kosovo.”
“Any efforts made,” he continued, “Would require the co-operation of the UN and the five permanent members of the Security Council, as well as the USA and other powers.”
Kranidiotis added: “What we always say is that Europe and other countries, instead of just saying Cyprus has to solve the Cyprus Problem, it would be better for them to try to solve it.”
He said many European countries had started coming round to the idea of Cyprus entering the EU, even if a solution had not been found to the Cyprus problem by that time.
And noting that Turkey had just come out of a long electoral process, he said: “We hope that Turkey will have a strong enough government to continue negotiations (on Cyprus).”
Asked about Cyprus taking part in the controversial EU embargo against Yugoslavia, Kranidiotis repeated that the government had had little choice but to comply: “Cyprus has to adjust to decisions taken by the EU,” he said.
Kranidiotis noted that as a member of Nato and a key Balkan state Greece had to “try to find a balance between the two sides.” He said that while Greece was taking part in the EU embargo, it was not contributing to the bombings.
“If Greece was isolated, this would have affected our relations with Turkey and it would have an impact on Cyprus too,” he said.
Speaking after an earlier meeting with Clerides, Kranidiotis focused on the smooth progression of Cyprus’ EU accession talks saying the issue of the Cyprus problem being solved was distinct from accession.
“There were some problems (with European countries wanting the problem solved before Cyprus’ accession), but these have been overcome,” he said.
