Roundup: Russia supports Cyprus solution without Turkish guarantees

Russia supports a settlement of the Cyprus problem which will do away with Turkish guarantees, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was reported to have told Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades during talks here on Wednesday.

Lavrov held talks with Anastasiades which focused on the current round of negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem and on regional issues, including the situation in Syria and the downing by Turkey a Russian plane during operations in Syria. Lavrov, who paid a one-day visit to Cyprus, also held talks with his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides.

The two ministers signed four cooperation agreements, including one providing evacuation for Russian nationals from the Middle East through Cyprus during times of crises.

Lavrov told a joint press conference with Kasoulides that relations between Russia and Cyprus could not be better.

Lavrov said that any effort to impose artificial time-frames or mediation to the Cyprus solution process would not be productive to the efforts aiming at its settlement.

Asked about Russia's position regarding the issue of foreign guarantees in the solution of the Cyprus issue Lavrov said that the settlement should ensure that the security is guaranteed on a very new basis and that this basis is agreed on by both Cypriot communities.

He added that once this agreement is reached, it is the United Nations Security Council which will play the main role.

Under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment, that led to the emergence of the Republic of Cyprus after century-long colonial rule by Britain, Britain, Turkey and Greece were named guarantor powers.

The issue of repealing the guarantees may prove of crucial importance in concluding a Cyprus solution.

Cyprus is trying to enlist the support of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council in its drive to have the guarantees repealed and replaced by EU guarantees. Endit