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Cyprus - President of Russian Federation to pay official visit to Cyprus next October

The President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev will pay an official visit to Cyprus on 7 and 8 October, accepting an invitation of the President of the Republic Demetris Christofias. The aforementioned statement was made by the Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou during the press briefing yesterday after a meeting of the Council of Ministers.

More specifically the Government Spokesman noted the following:

“The President of the Russian Federation Mr Dmitry Medvedev sent a letter to the President of the Republic in response to the letter that the President had sent him last January after the Turkish proposals. In this letter the President of the Russian Federation conveys Russia’s assessment of the President’s stance at the talks, which is aimed at the attainment of a comprehensive solution in accordance with the provisions of the UN resolutions on Cyprus. The letter reaffirms Russia’s backing of the view that the solution of the Cyprus problem can be reached only by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and that any attempts to impose ready-made recipes for a settlement, including a forged negotiating framework and external imposition of pressure upon the two communities, are counterproductive. In his letter President Medvedev reaffirms Russia’s position of principle vis-a-vis the parties involved and also Russia’s proposal to provide additional assistance for the creation of favourable conditions for the success of the direct bicommunal negotiations. Taking the opportunity of this letter, the Russian President announces the acceptance of the President of the Republic’s invitation to visit Cyprus in October, considering symbolic the fact that the visit will take place during the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the then Soviet Union; a development which will contribute further to the promotion of Russian-Cypriot collaboration and the expansion of bilateral cooperation. Mr Medvedev will pay an official visit to Cyprus on 7 and 8 October”.

Meanwhile, invited to say whether the Russian President’s visit falls within the framework of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Stefanou stated: “This shall be seen when the programme of celebrations will be announced. Nevertheless, as Mr Medvedev points out, this will mark the 50th anniversary of the forging of relations between the Cyprus Republic and the then Soviet Union. It is known that right after the declaration of the Republic of Cyprus, the Soviet Union recognised the Republic of Cyprus. Therefore, together with the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus we also have the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations which are truly excellent”.