ATHENS — Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday sent a message for the closer cooperation but also the upgrading of the partnership of the countries participating in the "Philia Forum" in a series of areas, from diplomacy and the economy to the management of the coronavirus pandemic, energy and everyday life.

Among others, Mitsotakis reiterated the necessary features of a possible solution to the Cyprus problem, noting that "all our countries support a fair, viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem. On the basis of the relevant UN resolutions and charter, as well as the European acquis. They work together and are committed to peace and progress prevailing in our crucial geostrategic region, with respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all our countries without foreign intervention, always remaining committed to international law and the Law of the Sea, peace, security, good neighbourly relations and the peaceful settlement of disputes."

However, the prime minister clarified that this initiative "is open to all, without turning against anyone, crossing the borders of the states that make it up, uniting three continents and connecting Europe with the Arab world."

He added that this pioneering form of cooperation, as he described it, "marks the partnership of Greece, Cyprus, Egypt with new partners such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, connecting the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Gulf. Our countries have close ties that stretch back to the distant past and all converge on the things that we believe in now, in international law and the law of the sea, in peace, in conditions of good neighbourliness, as well as stability. The deepening of the cooperation of this new group serves the common interests of our countries, promoting prosperity, laying the foundations for a broad, ambitious, positive agenda. And this is what we aspire to through the interconnectedness of our actions and initiatives on a number of issues, such as interfaith dialogue, energy, innovation, the digital economy, citizen protection, and relations between our peoples. This flexible scheme will meet at regular intervals in order to constantly expand the fields of partnership between our countries and is an example of harmonious transnational cooperation in the turbulent arena of international relations, but also a convergence of different governments from Europe and the Arab world with the common goal of improving the daily lives of our peoples."