ATHENS – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis received on Friday Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades who is in Athens and will later address ruling New Democracy’s 14th Congress.

Welcoming Anastasiades to the Maximos Mansion, Mitsotakis thanked him for the honour to address his party’s Congress, adding that the ties between their parties are known and historic. “I want to point out that your visit coincides with a very interesting conjucture as we will have the opportunity to discuss my imminent trip to Washington, the coordination of Greece and Cyprus’ actions in an period which unfortunately, the imperialistic revisionism appeared again in our continent. We will also discuss the prospect for further collaboration in the energy sector and I will have the opportunity to brief you on my upcoming visit to the UAE on Sunday and also on the arrival of Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in two weeks in Greece.”

On his part, Anastasiades said it would be an honour to address ND Congress, while his visit to Athens will give them the opportunity to discuss a series of matters of mutual interest.

Anastasiades and Mitsotakis agree that any additional European Union sanctions against Russia must be targeted and not chosen to “serve the interests” of some member states while leaving others in the lurch.

President Nicos Anastasiades said after talks with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens on Friday that the two leaders fully support EU sanctions against Russia and condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

But Anastasiades said he and Mitsotakis share the view that the 27-nation bloc must take into account the concerns of Greece, Malta and Cyprus regarding sanctions that could potentially harm their economies.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioanis Kasoulides told state broadcaster CyBC on Thursday that Cyprus objects to any sanctions that would impact law and accounting firms that offer services to Russian-owned companies registered in Cyprus.

Kasoulides said he believes the EU will move to impose additional sanctions on law and accounting firms servicing Russian-owned companies specifically registered in Russia.

He said an embargo on Russian oil and gas wouldn’t affect Cyprus which purchases its supplies from other countries but joins Malta in supporting Greece’s efforts to keep its sizeable oil tanker fleet off any sanctions list.