President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias received Tuesday in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, with whom he discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus issue.
In statements after the meeting, President Christofias said that Russia’s position regarding Cyprus remains firm and consistent, adding that Moscow supports the independence, the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.
“We have reaffirmed that the position of the Russian Federation regarding the Cyprus issue has not changed. This is unwavering and consistent support for a solution of the Cyprus problem, through peaceful means, on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions and High Level Agreements” which provide for a bizonal bicommunal federation, he said.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Cypriot President held Tuesday a series of separate meetings with Australian Prime Minister Κevin Rudd, Vice President of Cuba Miguel d' Escoto Brockmann and President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic.
Answering questions regarding his meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister, President Christofias said they also discussed political developments in Russia as well as preparations of his visit to Moscow in November.
The Cypriot President said that Lavrov reiterated Russia’s position that the Cyprus issue and developments in South Osetia and Abkhazia cannot be linked to each other.
The President was also invited to comment on Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s speech at the UN General Assembly, in which he referred to a solution of the Cyprus problem “based on a new partnership state comprising two equal constituent states”.
“There is no new partnership, there is no new state”, President Christofias stressed, adding that the new state will evolve from the Republic of Cyprus.
He said that Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the UN will give an official reply to President Gul’s references.
“I have to stress once more that, based on UN resolutions, the Cyprus peace talks are held between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus and a future agreement will not be signed by states. There are no two states. There is the Republic of Cyprus and there are two communities, which will come to an agreement. That is why we talk about a bicommunal, bizonal federation”, he said.
Asked about his meeting with the Vice President of Cuba, President Christofias said that the two countries share traditionally friendly relations and they cooperate in various fora.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
A fresh attempt to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem began this September when the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat began substantive negotiations with a view to reunify Cyprus.
