Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos arrived at Cyprus' Larnaca airport on Sunday for an official visit to the island republic, the first by a foreign official since the start of Cyprus' stint in the EU presidency on July 1. In statements at the airport, Avramopoulos expressed his complete conviction that the Cyprus Republic would be completely successful in carrying out its work as the EU presidency, though this coincided with a difficult period due to the economic crisis and the generally volatility in the area. He also underlined that the Cyprus issue remains a "supreme priority" of Greece's foreign policy, for the coalition 'national responsibility' government and its leader, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.
Avramopoulos was greeted at Larnaca airport by Cyprus Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis and Greece's ambassador to Nicosia Vassilis Papaioannou.
In statements concerning the Cyprus issue, Avramopoulos stressed that "we remain dedicated to our common goal, which is to end the Turkisn occupation and settlement and to find a just, viable and functional solution in the framework of United Nations decisions and in accordance with the values of the European Union and Community entitlements". He noted that his visit on Sunday, his first in his capacity as Greece's foreign minister, ushered in Cyprus' EU presidency that began on the same day. "I feel exceptionally happy that the time of my visit coincides with Cyprus taking over the European Union presidency for the first time in its history," he added.
Avramopoulos said that his meetings in Nicosia will give him an opportunity for a more detailed briefing on the latest developments surrounding the Cyprus issue and to exchange views with Cypriot government officials and political parties on ways to coordinate the actions of Greece and Cyprus in order to achieve shared goals.(AMNA)
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