Greek FM heralds momentum on Cyprus talks, says more meetings to take place

Record ID: 1984266

  • Title: Greek FM heralds momentum on Cyprus talks, says more meetings to take place
  • Date: 18th March 2025
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (MARCH 18, 2025)(ERT POOL) (SOUNDBITE)(Greek) GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE GERAPETRITIS, SAYING: “The discussion focused on issues pertaining to confidence building measures between the two parties, in particular the issues of demining, environmental protection, youth, restoration of cemeteries and others. It was decided that a personal envoy will be a
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: BRITAIN CONFLICT CYPRUS GREECE TURKEY UN
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND/INTERNET
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND/INTERNET
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe
  • Reuters ID: LVA002979318032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said on Tuesday (March 18) talks on the future of Cyprus would continue after parties and representatives met in Geneva, underlining the importance of the Cyprus issue being at the "forefront of the United Nations agenda".
    He said informal bilateral meetings would continue and a five-party meeting was expected again at the end of July.
    The Greek foreign minister said dialogue was extremely important for building confidence, despite any differences in positions of the two sides.
    United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said talks had made progress for the first time in years, agreeing a series of joint initiatives including the opening of crossing points.
    He announced new confidence-building measures between the two sides which included opening the four crossing points; demining; the creation of a new committee on youth affairs; environmental initiatives; solar energy projects in the buffer zone; and the restoration of cemeteries.
    The two sides also agreed to a new U.N. special envoy, Guterres said.
    Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar also told reporters he was "satisfied" with the "positive" discussions held with his Greek counterpart and representatives from Greece, Turkey and Britain.
    The island was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup, following years of sporadic violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots almost immediately after independence from Britain in 1960.
    (Production: Deborah Kyvrikosaios)
  • Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register