Papandreou: “We must forget our past differences and take lessons from them”

Greece’s former Prime Minister and Socialist International Head Yorgo Papandreou said regarding the solution of Cyprus Conflict, “We must forget our past differences and take lessons from them so that we can overcome these mistakes and won’t repeat them. We must not allow the problems which we can take lessons to capture us.”

The conference titled ‘Turkey and Cyprus: Regional Peace and Stability” has been organized in Ankara by International Strategic Research Institution (ISRI) and Cyprus Academic Dialogue.

At the conference which took place with the participation of Greece’s former Prime Minister and Socialist International Head Yorgo Papandreou and Former Foreign Affairs Minister Hikmet Çetin and various other diplomatic representatives, the steps which can solve the Cyprus Conflict have been discussed.

Saying “if a country is both divided and small, there will be difficulties in the security” Former Prime Minister Papandreou pointed out that Southern Cyprus being an EU member is very important for the security and stability of the island and the region.

Emphasizing that there can be a solution in the island with values which both sides can unite, Papandreou evaluated as “We have a mainstay. As indicated many times, there are joint statements, bi-communal, bi-zonal, yet one citizenship solutions of the United Nations. These are the things which we need to work on and develop.”

Papandreou indicated that for a permanent solution support from international society is needed as much as the support needed from politicians and civil society.