ATHENS — "The cooperation of our governments within the EU and the UN is excellent. We discussed Greek-Turkish relations and the informal five-party meeting on the Cyprus issue," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday in joint statements that followed his meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, at the Maximos Mansion.

In terms of Greek-Turkish relations, Mitsotakis noted that the Greek side wants "open channels of communication without provocations and aggressive actions," adding that "Athens remains open without being naive."

"We insisted on the need for the EU to participate, so [the meeting] is transformed into five plus one," he said, pointing out that "overall, the Union must insist on the credible implementation of its dual-approach policy towards Turkey. We welcomed the Borrell report, we stressed the need for the conclusions to move in the same spirit."

In the Southeastern Mediterranean, Turkey has withdrawn its research ships, Mitsotakis said. "This fact is not insignificant, it remains to be seen if it will last. It is up to Turkey to prove whether it is an honest approach or a misleading manoeuvre. Whether it will follow the path of international law or whether it will follow delinquency. That choice will have consequences."

"The demands for a two-state solution are outside the EU framework," the Greek prime minister said, adding: "Our common position is the abolition of anachronistic guarantees and the removal of the occupying forces."