UNITED NATIONS - Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos has assured the new leadership of Cyprus, to be elected on Sunday, that Greece will continue to stand by Cyprus.
Avramopoulos met Thursday at the UN headquarters with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, with whom he discussed, among other issues, the Cyprus problem. According to a Greek Foreign Ministry source, the message conveyed during the meeting is that the process aiming to reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem must remain within the framework of the agreed process, under the UN auspices.
In statements to the press, Avramopoulos said that the Cypriot people will elect on Sunday their new leadership which will have to address major challenges.
The new leadership, he added, can be sure that Greece will continue to stand by Cyprus, doing its utmost, and strive for a just and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem and the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops.
The second round of the presidential election in Cyprus will take place on Sundayy, after right-wing Democratic Rally leader Nicos Anastasiades fell short of the 50% needed for an outright majority during the elections held on February 17. Anastasiades secured 45.46% of the vote, while his rival at this Sunday`s elections AKEL-backed Stavros Malas 26.91%.
Yiorgos Lillikas, who was supported by Socialist EDEK party, failed to make it to the second round. He secured 24.93% of the vote