Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis has described the first official visit of Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, to Greece as very substantive noting that the Supreme Council that has been set up for the intergovernmental cooperation between Cyprus and Greece institutionalizes the diachronically excellent relations between the two countries with a view to achieve better cooperation and coordination in attaining common objectives as in the energy and shipping sectors, apart from the Cyprus question.

In statements he made in Athens, where he is accompanying President Christodoulides in his official visit, Letymbiotis also noted that Christodoulides briefed on Tuesday the leaders of the Greek parliamentary parties on the priorities of the Cypriot government, especially as regards the Cyprus issue, and about his proposal for a more active involvement of the EU in efforts to break the impasse and for the immediate resumption of the negotiations within the UN framework.

He went on to say that Christodoulides’ official visit to Greece was very substantive and apart from its symbolic nature, it also contributed to the President's exchange of views with Prime Minister Mitsotakis, President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and leaders of the parliamentary parties.

Letymbiotis said that Christodoulides returns to Cyprus for his meeting on Wednesday with the UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, that will take place in the framework of contacts on the Cyprus problem, and to prepare for the European Council meeting next week and the bilateral meetings he will have on the sidelines of the European Council.

Asked if President Christodoulides feels that he is supported by Greece, the Spokesman recalled that Prime Minister Mitsotakis himself said on Monday in his statements that they view the EU’s more active involvement in the efforts on the Cyprus problem positively.

He stressed that the President is currently focusing on preparing the ground for the resumption of the negotiations, and that he will fly to Brussels a day before the European Council meets, to hold a private meeting with the President of the European Council Charles Michel to thoroughly elaborate on his proposal for a more active involvement of the EU and to prepare the ground. Letymbiotis expressed hope that a more active involvement of the EU to this effort will result in the resumption of the negotiations.

Asked about the invitation which the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has extended to President Christodoulides to pay a visit to Paris, the spokesman said that during arrangements made for a meeting between Christodoulides and Macron on the sidelines of the European Council the will for a visit by the President of Cyprus to Paris after the European Council was expressed, with a view to discuss more extensively and in more detail Christodoulides’ proposal.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.