Greece`s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias has conveyed to UN Secretary General`s special envoy Jane Holl Lute Athens` views on the time-frame and the methodology of the Cyprus reunification talks, during a two hour meeting they had, on Tuesday.

During the meeting Kotzias underlined that the Cyprus problem is first and foremost a matter of occupation and invasion and stressed for Greece the key issue is for Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots and the other three religious groups of the island to feel safe.

Therefore, he noted, “the Treaties of Guarantees and Security must be abolished.”

At the same time, Kotzias also told Lute that before the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres decides for the resumption of negotiations, substantial preparatory work should have already taken place in order to find out whether there is willingness and ability for productive solutions.

Lute left the Greek Foreign Ministry without making any statements.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Numerous UN-backed negotiations, aiming at reuniting the island under a federal roof, have failed to yield results. The latest talks under UN aegis took place in the summer of 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans – Montana