Developments regarding the financial crisis in Europe and Greece, relations between Greece and Turkey and the impasse in the UN-led negotiations on the Cyprus problem were among the issues discussed between a senior US Official and Greek FM Dimitris Avramopoulos on Friday.

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon is visiting Greece ahead of a visit to Turkey.

Avramopoulos briefed Gordon on the Greek government’s decisiveness to deal successfully with the challenges the Greek economy is faced with. On his part Gordon reiterated his country’s support of the Greek government’s efforts to deal with the crisis.

Relations between Greece and Turkey and the impasse on the UN-led negotiation process, which aims to reunite the island, divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third, were on the meeting’s agenda.

Turkish threats against the Republic of Cyprus over the exercise of its sovereign rights were also discussed.

Ankara threatened Cyprus, when Nicosia launched on September 2011 its exploratory activities within its EEZ and announced earlier this year a second round of licensing for off-shore hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation within the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkey’s moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources.

Gordon and Avramopoulos discussed bilateral cooperation and regional developments in the Middle East, North Africa and the Balkans.

Avramopoulos briefed Gordon on Greece’s positions as regards the crisis in Syria, highlighting the need to protect minorities as a fundamental factor of any political transition.

He further stressed Greece’s role in promoting stability in the region, its will to proceed with the delineation of all its maritime zones and Athens’ efforts to integrate Western Balkan countries in Europe.