Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has underlined the importance of a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem, in statements to the press on the sidelines of the Southern European Countries Summit, that took place on Wednesday in Rome.

He said that the heads of state or government of the seven EU – Southern discussed about international and regional developments and the need for the EU to act for peace and security, especially in the Mediterranean area.

“On our part, we underlined the importance of a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem”, he told journalists, adding that he also stressed the need for the Aegean Sea to become a sea of cooperation and peace, where the international law will be respected by all neighbouring countries, without resorting to any sort of threats.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to reunite the country under a federal roof, as prescribed by relevant UN resolutions.