Mr. Venizelos said that Turkey and Greece can “create fresh momentum for overcoming the chronic points of bilateral friction,” and expressed his confidence for the future of bilateral relations and for the stabilizing role that both countries could play for the whole region.

“At a time of uncertainty and regional instability in the Eastern Mediterranean, Greek-Turkish cooperation is a major attainment that must be safeguarded, because it is a stabilizing factor for the whole region,” said Greek Foreign Minister.

When he was asked to assess Turkey’s approach to regional developments concerning the Arab Spring, Venizelos said: “We believe it is in Turkey’s interest, as a candidate for accession to the EU, to continue dialogue with the EU and to intensify its efforts to harmonize its foreign policy with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. “

Regarding the diplomatic solution on Cyprus, Venizelos said that the Greek Cypriots were waiting for a “positive response” from the Turkish Cypriots after the recent proposals.

“Our firm position is that an agreed, comprehensive, viable, functional and just solution can be reached based on the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and the European acquis. In the present phase, we are awaiting an exchange of proposals from both sides on all the issues in the talks, as has been agreed on. We also think it would be positive if there was a favorable response from the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish sides to the very constructive proposals made by Cypiot President [Nicos] Anastasiades for the adoption of confidence-building measures, with the focus on the opening of Famagust,” Venizelos said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos also stressed that Cyprus played an important role in Turkey’s EU accession process. “Of course, the implementation the long-awaited Additional Protocol to the AnkaraAgreement, and the normalization of Turkey’s relations with the Republic of Cyprus, would impart significant momentum to Turkey’s European perspective. Greece continues to support systematically and sincerely this perspective, so long as Turkey meets its accession obligations,”.