02:16Russia: Cypriot politician calls on Russia to offer 'any assistance' in reunification talks
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a meeting with a leading Cypriot politician, General Secretary of the Progressive Party of Working People of Cyprus Andros Kyprianou in Moscow, Tuesday.
On the meeting, Lavrov said that Russian aim "is to promote our [Cypriot-Russian] relations as much as possible."
"Despite the well-known difficulties in Europe, in global relations, friends are always friends. As they used to say: 'A friend in need is a friend indeed.'”, said Lavrov.
Andros Kyprianou thanked Russia and Lavrov "for the consistent and the clear position you have on the solution of the Cyprus problem." He mentioned, "The negotiations are in a very crucial phase, and we strongly believe that we need any assistance that we could have in order to have the breakthrough."
Since Turkey launched an invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the island has been split in two, between the Turkish part of northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus, in the south. In 1983 the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey, was proclaimed on the occupied territories. Negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus resumed in February 2014 after a two-year break.
02:16Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a meeting with a leading Cypriot politician, General Secretary of the Progressive Party of Working People of Cyprus Andros Kyprianou in Moscow, Tuesday.
On the meeting, Lavrov said that Russian aim "is to promote our [Cypriot-Russian] relations as much as possible."
"Despite the well-known difficulties in Europe, in global relations, friends are always friends. As they used to say: 'A friend in need is a friend indeed.'”, said Lavrov.
Andros Kyprianou thanked Russia and Lavrov "for the consistent and the clear position you have on the solution of the Cyprus problem." He mentioned, "The negotiations are in a very crucial phase, and we strongly believe that we need any assistance that we could have in order to have the breakthrough."
Since Turkey launched an invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the island has been split in two, between the Turkish part of northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus, in the south. In 1983 the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey, was proclaimed on the occupied territories. Negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus resumed in February 2014 after a two-year break.