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Russia seeks military facilities on Cyprus: Russian ambassador

Xinhua, January 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Moscow is seeking military facilities on Cyprus, Russian ambassador Nicosia Stanislav Osadchiy said on Wednesday.

But Osadchiy said his country's consultations with the foreign ministry of Cyprus were presently centered on bilateral agreements to be signed when the eastern Mediterranean island's president, Nicos Anastasiades, visits Moscow on Feb. 25.

Osadchiy did not specify the kind of facilities Moscow wanted Cyprus to provide.

"Russia is interested in an agreement providing military facilitation similar to the ones in place with France and Germany," Osacdhiy said.

"The matter is being discussed," he added.

Cyprus has been providing facilities for French planes at an air base near the western city of Paphos and facilities for German ships and helicopters participating in the United Nations peace force in Lebanon, UNIFIL.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has indicated Russia would like storage facilities at the southern port of Limassol to build up a stock of replacement parts.

"We did not turn down the request but asked Russia to wait until plans for expanding the Limassol port area are completed so as to know what space would be available," Kasoulides said.

The Limassol port borders on the British air base of Akrotiri which serves NATO operations and is also an important hub in the electronic military surveillance system of the alliance.

Akrotiri is one of two sovereign base areas Britain retained on Cyprus when it granted it independence in 1960.

Cyprus is keen to enhance its relations with Russia, traditionally a staunch supporter of Cyprus in the United Nations in its ongoing dispute with Turkey. Enditem