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RF, Cyprus maintain strategic partnership – Kosachev

This is conditioned by the fact that the interests of the two countries coincide

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

NICOSIA, November 1 (Itar-Tass) — Moscow and Nicosia maintain strategic partnership irrespective the results of the upcoming presidential elections in Cyprus slated for February 2013, head of the Russian Federal Agency for the CIS Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation Konstantin Kosachev told Itar-Tass.

After the talks with Cypriot President Demetris Christofias on Thursday, Kosachev said, “We discussed prospects for relations between our countries in the context of upcoming presidential elections in Cyprus scheduled for February 2013. The Cypriot president assured us that irrespective the outcome of the elections [nobody is going to predict the outcome] relations between Cyprus and Russia will be of strategic nature.”

This is conditioned by the fact that the interests of the two countries coincide. “Both parties realise how a united Europe and the entire world should be built. Our interests coincide in many approaches and no election can influence them. It would be important to hear these words from the Cypriot president. We expressed our gratitude to him for his personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations. We agree that Russia and Cyprus can do much jointly within the context of building a united Europe by using Cyprus’ presidency in the European Union,” the Russian official stressed.

In his words, “visa free formalities are the key topic in our further cooperation. Cyprus should not be convinced that this step will meet the interests of all peoples who live in Europe.”

During the talks, Christofias pointed to Cyprus’s necessity for additional loans, Kosachev said, adding that the talks on this issue were now being held on different tracks. “Our delegation was not entitled to discuss this topic,” he said.

However, the participants in the meeting expressed hope that corresponding decisions would be taken timely. “These decisions should not lead to serious disturbances in friendly Cyprus,” he concluded.

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