Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrived in Cyprus at 10 a.m. on Monday on his first foreign visit as prime minister. The visit was symbolic as it is a longstanding convention that leaders of each country visit the other following their election. Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides met Tsipras at the airport. In Nicosia, Tsipras met with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades. The Cyprus issue is the cornerstone for the Greek-Turkish relations and the consolidation of stability in the region, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras noted in joint statements with Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades after their meeting. Tsipras referred to the high level of cooperation and coordination of the Greek and Cypriot government and noted that the economic crisis has burdened Greece and Cyprus, which, he said, remain two significant pillars of stability. He also spoke of the violation of sovereign rights in Cyprus’ EEZ. The dispatch of the Barbaros research vessel is “a flagrant violation of the international law and undermines the bilateral talks,” he stressed. Regarding the economic crisis, Tsipras said that Europe needs to aid growth and leave scaremongering tactics. He underlined that Greece and Cyprus aren’t just two little countries in the EU but without them the EU would be mutilated. He spoke of the replacement of the troika of Greece’s lenders in the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund as a “necessary development.” Tsipras is slated to meet former President Demetris Christofias, representatives of the missing persons and NGOs before addressing a special session of parliament at 8.30 p.m. This will be followed by a dinner in his honor hosted by Anastasiades. Tsipras is due to leave Cyprus at around 10 p.m.
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