Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has said that Greece and all other EU countries desire and expect a solution to the long-standing Cyprus problem that will be viable and based on the international law.

Kotzias made statements to the press after a long meeting with his German counterpart and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who is paying an official visit to Greece.

Responding to a question about Turkey`s behaviour towards many European countries, Kotzias said that “Greece wants a democratic and European Turkey”, and that it is up to Turkey to decide if she wants to become “a democratic and European country”. It is her problem, not ours, he noted.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Kotzias said that Greece and the other EU countries want a peaceful and viable solution, based on the international law.

He noted that Greece and he personally reject any ideas suggesting that third countries could have the right of intervention to the island.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN led talks between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities resumed in May 2015 with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.

The talks were interrupted in mid February by the Turkish Cypriot side, which demands that a decision passed by the Cypriot Parliament relating to a 1950 referendum on union with Greece is revoked, claiming this indicates a shift in the Greek Cypriot side`s goal for a federal solution. The amendment provides that there will be a very brief reference one a year to the referendum at schools.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has described the House decision as wrong and called on the leader of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, who walked out of the talks, to return to the negotiating table to discuss pending issues with a view to reach a mutually acceptable agreement to reunite the country.