The Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos paid an official visit to Cyprus on October 1, representing the Greek government at a military parade held as part of celebration for the 54th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the Republic of Cyprus. 

In his statements following the parade in Nicosia, Avramopoulos said that Greece supports President Nicos Anastasiades' efforts for a viable solution to the Cyprus problem so that Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots can be members of the wide European family.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the 54th anniversary of the declaration of the independence of the Republic of Cyprus, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos addressed a letter to the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Ioannis Kasoulides, which stressed that "…The international legal personality of the Republic of Cyprus is an exceedingly important acquis that works in favor of all its citizens. A just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem can only exist within the framework of the relevant decisions of the UN Security Council, the high-level agreements, and the European community acquis. (…) Greece, like the Republic of Cyprus, will never accept or participate in the legitimization of faits accomplis."

In the context of his visit, Avramopoulos also met with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis and the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus Christoforos Focaides with whom he signed a Common Crisis Management Memorandum between Greece and Cyprus.

Avramopoulos pointed out that the agreement "is not aimed at purposes of aggression but of security." In addition to its defensive and operational significance and the coordination of procedures and agencies for managing crises in Greece and Cyprus, the signature and the simultaneous entry into force of the agreement, "broadcasts the powerful bonds of solidarity and the brotherly relations between Greece and Cyprus," Avramopoulos said.