FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE — Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has reiterated that resolving the Cyprus issue remains Greece’s foremost national priority, vowing to pursue every effort toward the island’s reunification, which he referred to as the “Great Island.”
In an interview with Real News, cited by Alithia, Gerapetritis expressed optimism following the latest informal expanded meeting held in New York, suggesting that progress on the long-stalled Cyprus negotiations may be within reach.
He noted that after seven years of diplomatic stagnation, informal talks have resumed thanks to coordinated efforts between the Greek Foreign Ministry and the Republic of Cyprus, with improved Greek-Turkish relations playing a key role.
“Following the expanded-format meeting in New York, we now have a roadmap and a list of confidence-building measures,” he said.
Asked about the proposed undersea electricity cable project between Greece and Cyprus and Turkey’s objections, Gerapetritis responded: “Athens has shown, not just in words but in action, that it does not fear threats when it comes to asserting our sovereign rights with full awareness of our national interests and respect for international law.” He added that Greece’s foreign policy remains “strong, active, and self-defined.”
On reports that Libyan figure Lahlife Hafter may be ready to endorse the Turkey-Libya maritime accord, Gerapetritis stated that Greece has established high-level communication channels with both eastern and western Libya, making it the only European country to do so.
He warned that the Turkey-Libya agreement remains a “thorn” in bilateral relations and, if ratified by the Benghazi-based parliament, would be legally invalid and detrimental to Greek-Libyan ties. “Fortunately, that has not happened,” he said, adding that Greece’s position in Libya has not weakened—“on the contrary, it has strengthened.”