Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged Turkey to take steps to resume negotiations on the Cyprus problem and discard its insistence on a two-state solution, warning that such rhetoric will only result in further deadlock.
In an interview with Greek SKAI TV following his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Vilnius, Mitsotakis expressed optimism that Turkey is willing to shift its foreign policy approach.
The Greek Prime Minister regarded the meeting as an opportunity to initiate a fresh start in Greek-Turkish relations, following a challenging four-year period. He stated, “Greece stands to benefit greatly from Turkey’s shift in policy, and I hope to see it continue with consistency.”
Mitsotakis also addressed Turkey’s aspirations to join the European Union, highlighting the significance of Cyprus’ stance on the matter. He stressed the importance of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side returning to the negotiating table while abandoning the pursuit of a two-state solution. The Greek Prime Minister cautioned that embracing this position as a starting point would inevitably lead to an impasse that must be taken into consideration.
In summary, Mitsotakis has urged Turkey to engage in constructive dialogue on the Cyprus issue, urging them to abandon their insistence on a two-state solution. He expressed optimism for improved Greek-Turkish relations, emphasizing the potential benefits for Greece resulting from a shift in Turkey’s foreign policy.
