Kotzias: No solution on Cyprus until "last boot" leaves the island

May 5, 2015
Written by E.Tsiliopoulos

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias on Monday advocated dialogue with Turkey but noted that there can be no solution for Cyprus until “the last boot has left the island.”

“We know that the balance of power between Greece and Turkey has changed because of the economic figures, which obliges us to examine Turkey based on all the regional and international correlations,”
Kotzias said during the presentation of a book by Angelos Syrigos titled “Greek-Turkish relations” at the Athens Concert Hall Megaron.

He warned though that there cannot be a solution to the Cyprus issue if the island’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence are not restored based on the guarantees of the international community and the EU.

“It cannot happen until the last boot that reminds us that Turkish soldiers have marched through the island is gone,” Kotzias said, adding that no other solution will be accepted by Greek-Cypriots or Turkish-Cypriots.

“The Turkish-Cypriots are the most oppressed. Therefore our demand for the withdrawal of the Turkish army is not a request for Cyprus to regain its territorial integrity, it’s the democratic demand which defends the common interests of Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots,” he added.

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