Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras symbolically chose Cyprus for his first official visit abroad. In joint statements with Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades yesterday (February 2), the Greek Prime Minister stressed that the Cyprus issue is the cornerstone for the Greek-Turkish relations and the consolidation of stability in the region.

"The EU and the eurozone without Greece and Cyprus are both crippled at their easternmost edge, the edge that today more than ever needs to be stable and safe,” Tsipras said adding that “Greece and Cyprus are pillars of security and stability in a troubled geopolitical environment of the wider region."

He reiterated that Greece remained committed to a peace deal on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and a single citizenship, as laid out in UN Security Council resolutions.

Anastasiades, on his part, said that the visit proves Greece’s support to the Republic of Cyprus and its commitment to a solution based on European principles and values. “It has been reaffirmed that relations between Greece and Turkey go through the Cyprus issue and cannot coexist with challenges against Cyprus,” Anastasiades said.