Monday’s meeting of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, that took place in Berlin, opens the way to find a mutually acceptable compromise that will create conditions for the reunification of the island, Russia said on Tuesday, expressing its readiness to continue its active assistance to international efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue on the basis of UN resolutions.
A press release issued by the Russian Embassy in Nicosia said that Russia welcomes “the intention to resume the negotiations on Cyprus issue demonstrated by the parties at the end of the trilateral meeting in Berlin with the participation of the UN Secretary-General and the leaders of two Cypriot communities,” namely President Nicos Anastasiades and President Mustafa Akinci.
“We note with satisfaction the coincidence in principle of the sides’ position on the basic parameters of the future settlement to the Cyprus problem and support the UNSG’s commitment to continue his efforts in this direction,” the press release said.
Furthermore, it noted that “we believe that the meeting in Berlin opens the way to find a mutually acceptable compromise that will create conditions for the reunification of the island. Russia is ready to continue its active assistance to international efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions, which imply the establishment of the bicommunal and bizonal federation in Cyprus.”
The UN Secretary-General said on Monday that he committed to exploring with Anastasiades, Akinci and the guarantor powers the possibility to convene an informal five-party meeting on Cyprus “at an appropriate stage”, following an informal dinner in Berlin attended by both leaders.
Guterres also noted that the leaders of Cyprus affirmed their commitment to the Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014, the prior convergences, and the six-point framework he presented on 30 June 2017 “with a view to achieving a strategic agreement paving the way forward for a comprehensive settlement.”
