Russian Ambassador to Cyprus, Stanislav Osadchiy, assured on Wednesday the Foreign Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Kornelios Korneliou, that there is no issue of conducting direct flights between Russia and Cyprus’ Turkish occupied areas, as was published by Turkish daily “Milliyet”.
After the story was published in “Milliyet” we took action both in Nicosia and in Moscow, Korneliou told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), adding that the Russian side assured that the information published by the Turkish newspaper is false and that its stance on the Cyprus problem remains unchanged.
“However, we deemed that it was appropriate to call the Russian Ambassador today at the Ministry to receive assurances at a higher level,” Korneliou added, noting that Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades, will also meet later today with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, in New York. “Therefore we hope that the whole issue will be clarified once and for all,” he added.
Asked what Osadchiy has told him, Korneliou said that “he told me that this information is false.”
The Foreign Ministry’s Permanent Secretary expressed the view that some circles may see some opportunities created by the current situations, the sanctions imposed on Russia and the more close relations which Moscow currently has with Turkey. However, he added, Osadchiy assured that there is no issue of conducting direct flights between Russia and Cyprus’ occupied areas.
Korneliou also said that he briefed Osadchiy on the positions of Nicosia on the Cyprus problem, and more specifically as regards the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and the appointment of a UN special envoy.
The Russian Ambassador reiterated that Moscow’s position on the Cyprus problem remains unchanged and is a position of principle, the Permanent Secretary noted.
Osadchiy, whose term of office in Cyprus is now coming to an end, will be leaving the island during the weekend. Murat Zyazikov, former President of the Russian Republic of Ingushetia, has been appointed as new Russian Ambassador to Cyprus, according to a decree by the Russian President published in the official website by the Kremlin.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency