GREECE has expressed solidarity with Cyprus and called on the EU to help find a peaceful solution to the crisis between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
The Prime Minister, Mr Costas Simitis, said at the end of a marathon cabinet session on the subject yesterday that Cyprus remained a priority for Athens.
He called on the international community, and especially the EU, to "convince Turkey to abandon its intransigence" and apply international law and UN resolutions on Cyprus.
The Education Minister, Mr George Paschalidis, represented Mr Simitis at yesterday's funeral in Paralimni.
Mr Simitis said he would go on a "working visit" to the Cypriot capital Nicosia today. He said Greece "will always be in solidarity with the Cypriots until the problem is resolved."
He said: "Negotiations on Cyprus's membership of the EU are due to begin at the latest in the second half of 1997 but still occupation forces, the forces of Attila, are violating all liberties on the island."
Attila was the codename given to the Turkish military intervention in Cyprus in 1974.
Calling Cyprus the last divided country in Europe, Mr Simitis said: "Freedom of movement, respected throughout Europe, does not exist on Cyprus, a third of the population is " years on, refugees from its own territory."
Mr Simitis said he had intended to attend yesterday's funeral but his packed schedule had prevented him staying any longer than a day. An authoritative source in Athens denied rumours that the Greek Prime Minister had stayed away from the funeral in order not to increase tensions.
On his working visit today, Mr Simitis said, he would examine the current situation with Greek Cypriot leaders, and study possible joint international initiatives.