NICOSIA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus and Greece said on Monday that the only solution to the Cyprus issue is the reunification of the island in a bi-zonal federation, in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions and with the basis agreed upon long ago between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
The position of the two countries was set out after talks in Nicosia between Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
"The solution cannot deviate from the relevant resolutions and decisions of the Security Council and European principles and values," Anastasiades said.
Mitsotakis said the two countries "remained focused on the UN decisions, which make up the only agreed and universally accepted solution framework and form the foundation for the implementation of the European acquis communautaire across the entire island."
Turkey has called for a two-state solution on the grounds that decades-long discussions for a federal solution had failed.
Mitsotakis visited Cyprus for talks ahead of a new effort by the United Nations to end the division of the island.
Anastasiades and Mitsotakis said that Cyprus and Greece were ready to participate in an unofficial international conference UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he would convene once all sides give their consent, in a bid to revive the Cyprus peace negotiations, stalled three and a half years ago. Enditem
