Debt, migration dominate PM Tsipras' meeting with US Secretary of State Kerry

Gazzetta team 1 Οκτωβρίου 2015 - 20:17

Greece's negotiations within the eurozone over the last months and the need for debt restructuring, as well as the issue of migrants, the Cyprus issue, the FYROM name issue, energy issues and the developments in Ukraine and Syria were discussed in a meeting between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

During the meeting on Wednesday, Kerry underlined the importance of the TAP and IGB pipelines for upgrading Greece as an energy hub, and reiterated US support for finding a solution to the Cyprus issue and the FYROM name issue.

Tsipras stressed the need for the US to support an upgrade of the UN mechanism for the resettlement of refugees, and to intensify US contacts with Turkey for the effective management of the refugee issue, as well as a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of UN resolutions.

Finally, Tsipras expressed the intention of the Greek government to resolve the name dispute by accepting a composite name with a geographical indication, as long as FYROM shows the same intention.

A statement issued by U.S. spokesperson John Kirby regarding Kerry's meeting with Tsipras and Kotzias said that Kerry had reaffirmed the "close bilateral relationship between the United States and Greece, a NATO ally and EU partner."

"He encouraged Greece to swiftly implement economic reforms that will allow its return to prosperity and growth within the Eurozone," the spokesperson added.