Greek PM-US Secretary of State meeting on debt, migration, name dispute

PM A. Kerry and US Secretary of State J. Kerry met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry was dominated by Greece’s debt negotiations with its EU creditors over the last months as well as the need for debt relief. The two men also spoke about the migrant crisis, the Cyprus issue, the FYROM name dispute, energy issues and the developments in Ukraine and Syria.

Kerry pointed to the significance of TAP and IGB pipelines that would put Greece on the energy map, while he reiterated US support for a solution to the Cyprus issue and the FYROM name dispute.

On his part, Tsipras heralded the need for US support in the upgrade of the UN mechanism for the resettlement of refugees, and called for talks with Turkey to be upgraded in the matter of refugee management. He also asked for effective management of the refugee issue, and a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem within the framework of UN resolutions.

Tsipras expressed the intention of the Greek government to find a resolution for the name dispute using a compound name with a geographical limitation, as long as FYROM shows the same willingness.