Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York.
During their meeting they examined the Cyprus issue, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the initiatives undertaken by Greece for the transition towards a green economy, which are aligned with UN goals on the protection of the environment and the climate.
The Prime Minister underscored that Greece has consistently been a proponent of peace, stability and multilateral cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, on the basis of International Law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the principles of good neighborliness.
He outlined Turkey’s illegal actions vis-a-vis Greece’s sovereign rights, in violation of the UN Charter and UNCLOS.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined that the only negotiating framework for the resolution of the Cyprus issue is clearly set out by the binding Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, which call for a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship.
He stressed that proposals that move in a different direction cannot be accepted as a basis for discussion and are, therefore, rejected.
The UN Secretary-General and the Prime Minister also examined developments in Libya. Mr Mitsotakis expressed Greece’s support for the UN efforts to hold free elections according to the agreed-upon timetable and for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Libya.
On migration, Prime Minister Mitsotakis said that Greece has shouldered a major burden, while stressing that it has taken in those who are entitled to international protection and especially those belonging to vulnerable groups, such as unaccompanied minors.
The Prime Minister expressed Greece’s full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General against climate change, adding that the protection of the environment constitutes a central tenet in the work of the Greek government.
