Greece and Cyprus say bizonal federation only solution to talk about (Update 2)

Greece and Cyprus on Monday rejected any form of reunification that was not a bizonal federation ahead of an UN-backed five-party meeting early next month.

In statements following a meeting in Nicosia, Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis and President Nicos Anastasiades reaffirmed their readiness to attend the meeting and rejected any notion of discussing any form of solution that was not based on UN resolutions calling for a bicommunal, bizonal federation.

“We express full readiness to participate in the informal meeting,” Anastasiades said following talks between the Greek and Cypriot delegations. “Our position was clear as regards the form of solution. It cannot deviate from the relevant resolutions and decisions of the Security Council and European principles and values.”

The president said the island’s reunification must include the termination of the “anachronistic” system of guarantees and withdrawal of the Turkish occupying troops.

The evolution of the Republic of Cyprus must be functional, without exclusions that could lead to collapse, he added.

Anastasiades said the two countries agreed that “our determination to engage in a new negotiating process should not negate the need for a creative climate,” warning that any Turkish actions in the region or Cyprus would affect the effort.

“We believe that Turkey’s contribution is necessary in creating a suitable climate, terminating any unilateral or unlawful action, which would have the opposite result.”

The president expressed hope that the EU will display the necessary solidarity in supporting efforts to solve the Cyprus problem through actively engaging in an expected future dialogue on the substance of the issue.

Mitsotakis reaffirmed his country’s support for Cyprus, stressing that it was an important juncture for the future of the Cyprus problem.

He said Greece’s top priority was to end the occupation and find a mutually acceptable solution that will be functional

The Greek premier censured the Turkish side’s insistence on a two-state solution, noting that that was also rejected by the EU.

“We remain focused on the UN decisions. They make up the only agreed and universally accepted solution framework, which is the foundation for the implementation of the European acquis communitaire across the entire island.”

“Unfortunately, Turkey’s and the leader of the Turkish Cypriots’ stance, if one listens to their public statements, clashes with the UN framework, insisting on an ungrounded position on two states. Consequently, Ankara and Mr (Ersin) Tatar should know that restarting a substantive dialogue means only within the existing and binding limits I just described.”