Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country will propose to the UN Security Council to pay special attention to the initiative by President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos to promote implementation of a UN-brokered agreement in July last year, aiming to help resume negotiations towards a political settlement.
He also expressed the hope that future reports on Cyprus by the UN Secretary General will reflect the realities in Cyprus.
Lavrov was speaking after talks with President Papadopoulos as part of his two-day official visit to the island.
Papadopoulos said their talks took place in “the well known friendly spirit that exists between the two countries†during which they discussed “ways and means of strengthening our relations in a wide field of commercial, research, educational and other activitiesâ€.
President Papadopoulos expressed “gratitude for the constant support, and the principled attitude which Russia takes concerning Cyprusâ€, noting that the Russian FM is “very knowledgeable about the Cyprus problemâ€.
In his remarks, Lavrov confirmed his country is very satisfied with its relations with Cyprus. The talks covered a “rich agenda, culture, tourism military and technical cooperation, education. We discussed yesterday and today how to promote theseâ€.
“We also discussed the Cyprus problem. Russia is interested in finding a settlement which will be based on Security Council resolutions which will be the outcome of an agreement between the two communities that will be just, supported by the people of Cyprusâ€, he said.
The Russian FM added his country welcomes “the recent eight point initiative by President Papadopoulos which was addressed to the UNâ€, adding that this initiative is a move, “a very good mechanism to start implementing the July 8 Agreement which was endorsed by the leaders of the two communities and supported by the UNâ€.
“As we discuss Cyprus at the SC, we will be proposing to pay special attention to the proposals by President Papadopoulos and I hope this will bring results,†Lavrov underlined.
Asked why he did not meet Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Lavrov said his contacts involved four visits and he could not visit the “rest of Cyprus.â€
On much talk about the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and less talk about the occupation of Cyprus by Turkish troops, Lavrov said, speaking through an interpreter, that “on Cyprus, we must talk, use specific fundamentals. We are talking about real facts, because the government of the Republic of Cyprus is making many efforts to support the Turkish Cypriot community so that economic cooperation between the two communities increases.â€
He said President Papadopoulos reconfirmed his readiness for reunification of the country, adding “I hope in the future the UN Secretary-General’s reports will detail the real factsâ€,
Lavrov said he was surprised to see that in his recent report, the UN Secretary-General made no clear reference to the eight point proposal by President Papadopoulos, which aims to implement the July 8 agreement signed with the contribution of the UN in 2006.
“We call on both sides to become active in the direction of finding a solution which will be commonly accepted, based on the previous agreements signed and based on UN resolutions on Cyprus,†the Russian FM added.
On July 8 2006, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in the presence of the then UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari signed an agreement, involving bicommunal discussions by technical committees of issues affecting the day-to-day life of the people and, concurrently, consideration by expert working groups of substantive issues of the Cyprus problem.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory
Lavrov expressed appreciation to President Papadopoulos “for his consistent position for developing Russia – EU partnership and more issues which concern the international community and the EUâ€.
Asked about Russia’s reaction in the event of a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo and recognition of this independence by other states, Lavrov said in this event “those countries will violate international law. We do not support violation of international lawâ€.
Lavrov said a “unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo and recognition of this independence will not remain without consequencesâ€.
“This will create a chain reaction throughout the Balkans and other areas of the world. Those who devise such plans must weigh up the consequences very carefully,†he said on the day mediation efforts between Serbia and Kosovo Albanian leaders officially ended.
