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Greece calls on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus Chrysostomos II

(AFP) - NICOSIA - The Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas Thursday called on Turkey to withdraw its troops from northern Cyprus, as a token of his sincerity in the talks in order to reunify the divided island since 1974.

"I urge Turkey to make the necessary gestures and words into actions," said Droustas, visiting Cyprus. "I call on Turkey to withdraw its occupation troops from Cyprus."

"We are sending a clear message: the Cyprus problem is the first priority of foreign policy Greek, "he said after meeting with Cypriot President Demetris Christofias.

For his part, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grigoris Delavekouras, reiterated on Thursday afternoon during a press briefing just a hour after the arrival of the Greek delegation to Athens to Nicosia, as long as "the Cyprus problem is not resolved, no progress can be made in the negotiations for Turkey's accession to the European Union (EU ) ".

Peace talks were launched under the auspices of the UN in 2008 for a reunion Island, which would relieve Turkey's negotiations to join the EU blocked by a dispute over the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized only by Ankara.

Cyprus has been divided since July 20, 1974, when Turkey invaded northern Cyprus following a coup d'état by Greek Cypriot nationalists backed by the junta of colonels then in power in Athens and to link the country with Greece.