Putin to discuss Cyprus issue with Karamanlis

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin will pay a short working visit to Greece on September 4 during which he will discuss the Cyprus problem with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

CNA has learnt that Putin will stop over in Athens on his way to Algeria and South Africa where he will pay official visits.

Russian and Greek diplomatic sources told CNA that “apart from reviewing the Greco-Russian relations, the Kremlin obviously would like to express its gratitude to Greece for its role in evacuating Russian citizens from Lebanon via Cyprus, but mainly to be present during developments in the Middle East in a close country to the region, such as Greece, which is a very friendly country to Russia”.

The same sources told CNA “it is matter-of-course that apart from the Middle East issue, Putin and Karamanlis will exchange views on the Cyprus problem, developments in Kosovo and other international and regional issues, for which both countries share similar views or even identical ones”.