Greece's government and visiting Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades voiced concern over the pace of progress in peace talks with the so-called Turkish Cypriot side regarding the resolution of the Cyprus issue during a meeting in Athens on Monday.

Anastasiades, who is on a two-day visit to Greece, discussed the ongoing talks for the reunification of the divided island with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and other Greek government officials on Monday, while on Tuesday he is due to hold talks with leaders of opposition parties.

The UN-mediated dialogue which had collapsed two years ago was revived this winter, but there is concern that the dialogue over the Cyprus issue does not proceed as hoped.

"It seems that there is no significant rapprochement rather than a reaffirmation of diverging views in fundamental and secondary issues," Samaras said during a joint press briefing with Anastasiades after the meeting.

"The talks continue of course, but in order to resolve the issue the other side must show political will," he stressed, adding that regardless of the other side's stance Greece will continue to support the Greek Cypriot administration's efforts to achieve a functional, fair, viable and mutually acceptable solution.

"We are together. We steadily safeguard the rights of Hellenism, as well as peace and stability in our region and we are certain that our goals will eventually be met ," he concluded.

"What is significant is that together with the Greek government we have decided that certainly dialogue is the best option to achieve our targets," Anastasiades said on his part, thanking Athens for the support.

Cyprus has been ethnically divided since 1974, after a Turkish military intervention following a coup by Greek army officers.