Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met his Greek counterpart Costas Karamanlis in Istanbul.
Speaking after the meeting, the two Prime Ministers expressed their support to a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem.
The two Prime Ministers met at the Ciragan Palace by the sidelines of the summit of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

Speaking to reporters at the end of the meeting, Mr Erdogan referred the meeting as very useful and pointed to improving economic relations between the two countries.

On the Cyprus issue, Mr Erdogan said that both Turkey and Greece are in support of a lasting and just solution to the Cyprus problem and expressed the hope that progress will soon be achieved towards a solution.

For his part, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis pointed growing economic relations between the two countries and said that they have agreed to refrain from taking steps that could trigger tensions in the region.

On the Cyprus issue, he expressed support to a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue which is to be found under the aegis of the United Nations and within the framework of the EU principles.

On Turkey’s EU accession negotiations, Mr Karamanlis said that Greece will support Turkey’s EU membership once it fulfills the necessary criteria.