Moscow supports a Cyprus solution that will lead to the demilitarization of the island, said the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Nicosia, Stanislav Osadchiy.
Speaking on Friday, after meeting the Secretary-General of AKEL Andros Kyrianou, here, the Ambassador said Moscow`s position remains unaltered.
“Now that the two sides have started to discuss – as I understand it – the issues of foreign troops, as well as the international dimensions of the Cyprus issue, we support the demilitarization of the island, without foreign troops, without guarantees” Osadchiy stressed.
He underlined that a modern state does not need such guarantees, foreign troops or other residues of colonial legacy.
“We say that Cyprus has to be an independent island, an independent state and we back all efforts at the negotiating table towards this direction,” the Ambassador concluded.
From his part, Kyprianou said AKEL disagreed totally with any notion of having foreign troops stationed on the island after a Cyprus solution and noted that the settlement must provide for the demilitarization of Cyprus.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Peace talks are currently underway to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, under a federal roof.