Russian Ambassador in Nicosia Stanislav Osadchiy has expressed his deep concern over the escalating crisis in Syria, noting that any step towards a war is dangerous for all countries in the region.
Speaking to CNA on the sidelines of an event in Nicosia to honor cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the Ambassador also referred to the dinner that the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus (President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci) will have on Monday evening, expressing his country’s support towards the efforts to reach a solution in Cyprus, and noting that Moscow is ready to participate in any format the two communities wish for, while being ready to offer any assistance with experts or other specialists.
Asked by CNA about the escalating crisis in Syria, the Ambassador said: “We are very much concerned. The situation is very dangerous. We do everything we can to convince Americans and others so that nothing unexpected or very serious happens”
He expressed hope that the situation will not worsen, because, as he said, the consequences will be very bad and unforeseen.
“You know, in this region where Cyprus is also situated, any step towards the war is dangerous for the whole region and the war could begin and we do not want it,” he underscored.
Asked what he expects from Monday`s unofficial dinner between Anastasiades – Akinci, he expressed his country’s support to Cyprus noting that Moscow has always helped and will continue to do so, while being willing to participate in any format that suits Cypriots.
‘We are always ready to help with our experts and other specialists”, he told CNA.
We hope, he said, that during the dinner, the two leaders will find the path that they would like to follow in the future.
“We really want a settlement and we want peace in Cyprus also for the reasons I mentioned earlier regarding Syria”, he said, adding that Cyprus should not become a “base for war”.
Russia, he noted, wishes for peace in Cyprus.
“We want Cyprus to be peaceful. And this is up to the Cypriots as well, how the two communities will come to an understanding and what ways they will find so that there are no hostilities in the future”, he concluded.