“We hope that we call on the European Union to take bold initiatives – as we have discussed many times already – because without a European response it is very difficult to tame this explosive increase in natural gas prices,” he stressed. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a meeting with President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades.

“I am personally pleased as Prime Minister of Greece that many of the proposals that we have submitted to the European Union are currently being processed by the European Commission. I point out, however, that we are late and that we must do our best to regain lost ground,” he added.

Also, Mr. Mitsotakis stressed that with stability, self-confidence and adherence to international law, we respond to any rhetorical extremes of Turkey, which, unfortunately, as he characteristically said, have recently crossed all boundaries. “However, this does not mean that we will in any way change the responsible attitude with which we approach all these issues,” he said.

President Anastasiadis, speaking of the donation of the plane by the Greek government, said: “On behalf of both the Cypriot people and the government, as well as myself, I want to thank you. We were perhaps the only country in the European Union, and not only one, that did not have the vehicles of the respective President of the Republic and, most importantly, due to the isolation of the Republic of Cyprus, a normal trip to Brussels could mean an extra two days of visiting.”

“You are right, and I am sincerely glad that many of the initiatives you are taking are being accepted. And in relation to the European Union, and especially in relation to the sanctions being imposed, most of which, unfortunately, are not targeted, they mainly affect European states, instead of a target, there should have been the Russian regime, which is also to blame for the war,” added Mr. Anastasiadis.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Welcome once again to Athens and the Palace of Maximos today on a very happy occasion as the Hellenic Republic will donate one of our government aircraft to the Republic of Cyprus. This is the minimum return of the unfailing generosity of Cyprus, which stood by our homeland even after the devastating fires in Mati. I consider it very important, in addition to facilitating the movement of the President of Cyprus, that the wings, the name of Cyprus, the flag of Cyprus be imprinted on the government aircraft of the Republic of Cyprus.

We will have the opportunity, of course, to discuss the rest of the developments, which, unfortunately, due to the war in Ukraine, at least on the economic front, will be gloomy.

We hope we call on the European Union to take bold initiatives – as we have discussed many times – because without a response from Europe it is very difficult to tame this explosive rise in natural gas prices.

I am personally pleased, as Prime Minister of Greece, that many of the proposals that we have submitted to the European Union are currently being processed by the European Commission. I point out, however, that we are too late and that we must do everything possible to win back the lost ground.

We will, of course, also discuss developments in the wider Eastern Mediterranean. We reiterate that with stability, self-confidence and adherence to international law, we respond to any rhetorical excesses of Turkey, which, unfortunately, have recently crossed all boundaries. This does not mean, however, that we will in any way change the responsible attitude with which we approach all these issues.

So welcome again and happy to welcome you once again to Athens.

Nikos Anastasiades: Mr. Prime Minister, my dear Kyriakos, it is indeed with special feeling and special sensitivity that the Republic of Cyprus accepts a very important donation from the Greek government. And therefore, on behalf of both the Cypriot people and the government, as well as on my own behalf, I want to sincerely thank you. We were perhaps the only country in the European Union, and not only one, that did not have the vehicles of the respective President of the Republic and, most importantly, due to the isolation of the Republic of Cyprus, a regular trip to Brussels could mean an additional two days of visiting.

So it’s very important and we have made the decision to make this donation – and especially now that I’m leaving the presidency and no one will suspect that I did it for him – but this plane will not only be for transporting the President, government officials, but also in exceptional cases, necessary for humanitarian, medical reasons, etc. Thus, my gratitude is a sincere expression of what Cyprus needed, and for many and different reasons, unfortunately, this was not realized.

At the same time, it is, if you like, a response to the reciprocity that exists between us at critical moments. And I am sure that I will be back in Athens soon to lay the foundation stone for the area in Mati, an important contribution, in my opinion, to those who then suffered from the tragic consequences of an unforeseen fire.

But you correctly noted that the opportunity provided today, taking into account the Council of Europe, the ongoing situation with the war in Ukraine, the UN Summit together will give us the opportunity to discuss issues that need to be agreed upon, taking into account, of course, the threats received by both Cyprus and Greece and not only, from a candidate country for accession to the European Union.

You are right, and I am sincerely glad that many of the initiatives you are taking are being implemented. And in relation to the European Union, and especially in relation to the imposed sanctions, most of which, unfortunately, are not targeted, they mainly affect European states, and the Russian regime, which is also to blame for the war, should not have been the target.

We will have the opportunity to chat to see how we are facing in a coordinated way in the European Council some things that are not for the technocrats because they also have a political dimension.

On the other hand, I think that our close cooperation in the fight against threats, as well as in the exploitation of the natural resources of the region, is very important both for our countries and for the European Union. I want to thank you again and express my satisfaction, because the close cooperation between us has really paid off and is paying off. Thanks Kyriakos.

Source: RES-IPE