Cyprus problem an open wound says Mitsotakis

The Cyprus problem has been an open wound for the past 48 years, Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis told diaspora Greeks at an event in New York early on Thursday.

“We must not forget that the wound in Cyprus is open 48 years after the invasion, the island’s problem unfortunately has not been solved,” he told those at the lunch, which included Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

Referring to Ukraine, he said Greece had immediately supported the country and sent in defence materials.

“What is at stake is the maintenance of a rules-based international order. And of course this is something we should be very concerned about. It should worry us Greeks, it should worry our brothers in Cyprus,” he added.

He added that it is important that Putin is defeated in Ukraine to send a message to all authoritarian leaders that borders cannot be redrawn by force, that historical revisionism will not be rewarded and that there is only one way to resolve differences in today’s world and that is through the observance of the principles of international law in a peaceful way.

Commenting on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech at the UN General Assembly, Mitsotakis said Greece is not going to be bullied by Turkey.

“The challenges to Greece’s sovereignty are completely unacceptable. We will do whatever it takes to strengthen our alliances. I will spend time on this issue when I speak on Friday at the United Nations General Assembly,” he stressed.