Russia is ready to facilitate a dialogue between Cyprus and Turkey while it is concerned about the situation in the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a meeting with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.
“We are concerned about the situation in the Mediterranean and the relations with Turkey, we are ready to promote a dialogue based on mutual interests and the search for solutions that are fair and based on international law,” Lavrov said at the beginning of the meeting with the President of Cyprus.
“Finding compromises, finding a balance of interests is the only way to solve different problems in different parts (of the world). We are ready for a dialogue with our Cypriot friends on all issues of bilateral relations of the regional and international agenda,” Lavrov said.
The Russian Foreign Minister also recalled Russia’s position on the Cyprus issue: “We support the implementation of the decisions taken at the UN for the resumption and I trust to the completion of the negotiations between the two communities.”
Ιt is with great pleasure that I welcome Mr. Sergey Lavrov to #Cyprus. I am pleased to observe that our bilateral cooperation has been significantly advanced in recent years and both countries are working closely together to expand our political dialogue.
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— Nicos Anastasiades (@AnastasiadesCY) September 8, 2020
Today, I conveyed to Mr. Lavrov my sincere appreciation for #Russia’s principled position on the #Cyprus issue and steadfast support on our efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement on the basis of the #UN Security Council Resolutions and in line with international law.
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— Nicos Anastasiades (@AnastasiadesCY) September 8, 2020
???? Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades @AnastasiadesCY. #Russia #Lavrov #Cyprus #Diplomacy pic.twitter.com/j4D5gVZFFY
— MFA Russia ?? (@mfa_russia) September 8, 2020
Besides, with the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, the Cypriot President honored the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
At the award ceremony held at the Presidential Palace, President Anastasiades addressed to Lavrov and said that his personal contribution through his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as the other positions he held in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was invaluable, as was his contribution in the continuous development of historical relations between the two countries.
“Honoring the 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries and as a small sign of our gratitude, I present to you on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III as a due expression of the state and people of Cyprus for Russia’s timeless support,” said the President.
???? ? In Nicosia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was awarded The Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III. #Russia #Lavrov #Cyprus #Diplomacy pic.twitter.com/kmDMbfkW8X
— MFA Russia ?? (@mfa_russia) September 8, 2020
Lavrov thanked the President for the high state award, saying it was a symbol of recognition of the role of Russian diplomacy in promoting the full range of Cypriot-Russian relations.
He added that he fully shares the President’s assessments on the level of bilateral relations and reminded that the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries took place just two days after the establishment of the Cypriot state.
He noted that the strengthening of friendly ties between the two countries was confirmed recently during a telephone conversation between President Anastasiades and President Putin.