ArmInfo. 40% of Cyprus Island has been under Turkish occupation for 43 years, Foreign Minister of the Hellenic Republic Nikos Kotzias said at today's joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan.
Minister Kotzias noted that progress has been achieved on some internal issues, however, the final settlement of the conflict needs Ankara's recognition of the occupation and withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the island.
Mr. Kotzias said that this issue was being discussed at the talks held in Geneva, but as soon as the need for de-occupation of the island was stressed, Turkey's representative left the meeting, saying that he had some urgent business. The Greek Foreign Minister pointed out that the Turkish side is laying down conditions, which were not on the negotiating table or which are beyond the competence of the Cypriot side and concern the Turkey-EU relations. The impression is that Turkey is deliberately laying down such conditions to divert the attention from the problem, Mr. Kotzias noted, adding that there are numerous problems in Turkey, which cannot be settled without democratic principles.
He said that on the one hand the Turkish authorities are afraid of a new coup, but on the other hand they neglect others - the matter concerns Iraq, Syria and other problems.