rench Minister of Defence Gerard Longuet has conveyed the firm positions of his country for a solution of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of international and European law and UN resolutions, to his Cypriot counterpart Demetris Eliades.

Eliades, who was in Paris on Monday at the invitation of Longuet, reviewed with his French counterpart defense cooperation and security issues as well as issues of mutual interest. He thanked his French counterpart for his country’s firm support and principled positions on the Cyprus problem and the issue of Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). He then briefed his French counterpart on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue.

On the issue of natural gas and oil exploration in Cyprus’ EEZ, Eliades stressed that Cyprus exercises its sovereign rights with responsibility and full commitment to international law.

He added that Cyprus seeks peace and cooperation in the region and calls on Turkey to contribute substantially to achieving a solution to the Cyprus problem