NICOSIA –"Mr. Prime Minister, my dear Kyriakos, I want once again to welcome you to Cyprus and at the same time to thank you and express the gratitude of Cypriot Hellenism for the unflagging interest in Cyprus through the close contact that we have and for your sincere and abiding interest shown for everything that is happening and that concerns Cyprus, both by you personally and by your government and Greece's political leadership in general. It is something we believe is an essential element in the battle we are fighting for the liberation, the reunification and the creation of conditions that will allow the resolution and the peaceful co-existence with our compatriots the Turkish-Cypriots," stated Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday, as he welcomed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the Presidential Mansion in Nicosia.

"We will have the opportunity to analyse in detail all the things that could, with our determination, occur during the unofficial conference that, as it appears, the UN secretary general is ready to call. Also we will review the conditions in the wider region, as well as the next EU Summit, so that we can face them together but also cooperate for the best possible outcome, not only for Greece and Cyprus but also for the wider region and the EU," Anastasiades said.

"The solution of the Cyprus problem cannot deviate from the Security Council resolutions and European values," the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, added.

"Our common position is that the determination to engage in a process of dialogue does not negate the need for a creative climate," Anastasiades said, adding that "Turkey's contribution to creating a suitable climate is needed, by ending unilateral actions that will lead to the opposite of the expected result."

After thanking the Greek prime minister for Athens' support, Anastasiades noted: "We want to see Turkey proving through actions that it wants a sincere and constructive dialogue, far from unilateral actions. We want to believe that the EU will show solidarity. I thank my friend Kyriakos for the comprehensive briefing on the exploratory talks. It is our shared belief that dialogue should be limited to the official agenda."

He added: "The trilateral groups in the wider region prove that Greece and Cyprus are pillars of stability and peace, without excluding anyone."