CYPRUS: Nicosia seeks help from Moscow on peace talks

President Nicos Anastasiades asked for help from Moscow, to support momentum on a Cyprus peace push, during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

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In statements after his meeting with Lavrov, Anastasiades said the discussion focused mainly on the Cyprus problem and the excellent bilateral relations between Cyprus and Russia.

“We have raised certain issues on which we believe Russia could contribute, such as UNFICYP (peacekeeping), the good relations they maintain with Turkey and the influence they can exert so that there is a change (in position) in order for progress to be observed,” Anastasiades said.

He added: “It was a creative, friendly meeting with a specific agenda and I express my satisfaction over its outcomes.”

Asked what Moscow’s position is right now on the Cyprus problem, Anastasiades responded “reaching a solution”.

Anastasiades has also held meetings Jordan`s King Abdullah II on regional developments, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Albanian President Ilir Meta and representatives of the American – Jewish Committee (AJC).

The last round of UN-peace talks failed at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana in July 2017.