Cyprus and Greece share common goals and aspirations regarding the need to resume talks on the Cyprus problem, President Nikos Christodoulides said after meeting Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis on Tuesday.

Responding to questions after the meeting, the President said that Cyprus and Greece agree on a wide array of topics, “but most importantly on the necessity to restart talks.”

He added that the meeting took place to exchange views and specific actions within the framework of efforts by the UN Secretary-General to achieve this common goal.

Asked to comment on the statement made by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, who on Tuesday said he would not step back, seeking confirmation of “sovereign equality and equal international status”, Christodoulides said he would not publicly comment on it and stressed that the Cyprus problem would not be resolved through public statements.

He confirmed that Tatar will meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the coming days.

“I welcome their meeting. I hope he [Tatar] will respond to the UN Secretary-General’s call,” he said.