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Lavrov calls on UN Security Council to help settle Cyprus issue

The Russian top diplomat comments on the Cyprus situation

MOSCOW, December 7. /TASS/. The permanent members of the United Nations Security Council should join efforts to develop a final solution concerning the external aspects of the Cyprus issue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Greek Efimerida ton Syntakton newspaper.

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Russia vows tit-for-tat response to US’ military build-up in Cyprus

"We remain committed to finding a comprehensive, fair, solid and viable solution to the Cyprus issue. We believe that it is up to the Cyprus’ communities to find a final solution to the issue concerning its various aspects through talks based on UN Security Council resolutions," the Russian top diplomat said.

Lavrov pointed out that Moscow opposed attempts to impose ready-made solutions and artificially created temporary schedules on the parties. "Our initiative to engage all the permanent members of the UN Security Council in the development of a final solution related to the external aspects of the issue is still on the table," he added.

Cyprus remains divided into two parts since the 1974 Turkish invasion, which followed a coup carried out by supporters of the island’s unification with Greece. As a result of military activities, Turkey took control of about 37% of the island’s territory, where the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was created in 1983.

Turkey has been a guarantor for the Northern Cyprus, while the island’s southern part remains under control of the Republic of Cyprus.

UN-sponsored direct inter-communal talks have been going on for years. The most recent round of talks took place in Switzerland in the summer of 2017.

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