President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has said that it is important that a solution in Cyprus is achieved by Cypriots themselves, without foreign pressure.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Moscow with President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, who concluded a working visit to Russia, Putin said that Russia`s principled stance on Cyprus is that a comprehensive and just solution should be achieved on the basis of the UN decisions and the agreements between the two sides.
He described the discussions he held with the President of Cyprus as substantial and added that they exchanged views on bilateral and regional issues.
Putin said that Cyprus is an important partner of Russia and expressed his appreciation for President Anastasiades` willingness to deepen their bilateral relations.
He referred to the economic cooperation between the two countries and the close ties and cooperation between Russia and Cyprus.
In his statements, the Cypriot President thanked President Putin for the constructive dialogue and referred to the longstanding relations of the two countries. He said that they held a sincere and creative exchange of views on the Cyprus problem, the EU, bilateral issues and international and regional concerns.
He also said that he briefed his Russian counterpart on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue, stressing that he is ready to return to the negotiating table. President Anastasiades noted that a good preparation is necessary and said that the contribution of the five permanent member states of the UN Security Council is needed.
The Cypriot President expressed his deep appreciation for the long-lasting principled stance of Moscow especially in the framework of the UNSC.
