Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and his wife Elsie paid an official visit to the Slovak Republic upon invitation by Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič.

Following plenary talks, the two Presidents acknowledged the good quality of bilateral relations between their countries. The Presidents discussed bilateral, trade and cultural cooperation at the European level, issues related to Cyprus’ EU presidency scheduled for 2012, as well as cooperation within international institutions.

The Cypriot head of state several times reiterated that he and Ivan Gašparovič shared the same opinion on the long-lasting Greek-Turkish problem affecting this island country; both state officials observed that the problems between the Greek and Turkish communities living in Cyprus could long have been satisfactorily settled in a peaceful manner and agreement, if foreign power and military interests had not been persistently affecting this matter.

In this context, Ivan Gašparovič called for observance of the international law principles and conclusions of the UN Security Council which, in his opinion, should not be arbitrarily adjusted so as to conform to the interests of other powers and states.

Demetris Christofias emphasised that such a solution must be found to the Greek-Turkish issue in Cyprus that would ensure a “single state-single citizenship” status for the country.“It is not Turkey who is under occupation; Cyprus is under occupation by Turkish troops. I myself am a refugee from the zone occupied by the Turkish military. Therefore we strive for a unification based on the principles of a single international legal personality, a single state, a bizonal federation guaranteeing equal rights to Cypriot Greeks and Turks in compliance with Security Council resolutions,” the Cypriot President said.

At the end of his meeting with Ivan Gašparovič, Demetris Christofias invited the Slovak President to make an official visit to Cyprus. As part of the official programme of Cypriot President’s visit to Slovakia, the two Presidents also attended the opening of a Slovak-Cypriot Business Forum and the opening ceremony of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Bratislava.