Moscow believes that the security aspect of a Cyprus settlement needs to be solved in the framework of an international conference, said the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Stanislav Osadchiy, while underlining on Thursday his country`s keen interest on developments.
Speaking after a meeting with AKEL Secretary General Andros Kyprianou, in Nicosia, where they discussed the Cyprus issue, Osadchiy said that Moscow follows developments closely and is well informed. He noted that his country will have to play a certain role in the aspect of security, which affects the wider region, while internal aspects of the Cyprus problem need to be settled at the negotiating table.
The security component of a Cyprus settlement is of general concern for the region`s security and this is the reason why Moscow is keen on this matter, the Ambassador went on.
Responding to an announcement by Kyprianou, that he will visit Moscow soon, Osadchiy said this would contribute to his government forming a better opinion on this matter.
Concerning the essence of the matter, the Ambassador said that Cyprus, as a modern state, needs to decide on its own whether it wants to have such guarantees and in that case, he said that we need to discuss what kind. This discussion on guarantees needs to take place at an international conference on Cyprus, he added.
The fact that Russian Foreign Ministry officials don`t come that often to Cyrus does not mean we are not doing anything, Osadchiy said, in reply to a question over Moscow`s intentions to assume a more active role.
“As I told you, Moscow is well informed, the Minister, Mr. Lavrov, is a connoisseur himself of the Cyprus problem and we follow developments closely in this area” he said. The Ambassador of Russia noted finally that the Russian side also follows developments in Cyprus concerning the energy sector.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. UN-backed talks are ongoing since May last year, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.