MOSCOW, September 27. /TASS/. Russia is not satisfied with current system of guarantees to Cyprus by Greece, Great Britain and Turkey, Russian Foreign Ministry’s director of department of information and press Maria Zakharova said in an interview with Cypriot newspaper "Politis" published on the official ministerial website on Sunday.
Zakharova said that it is up to Cypriots to decide whether this systems of guarantees should remain in place in case of settling the Cypriot problem. "However, the existing system of guarantees has proved its inefficiency," she noted. "Along with this, we do not rule out that Cyprus can address the UN Security Council with a proposal to consider the possibility of providing necessary guarantees from this respected international organization."
"Russia stands for reaching a comprehensive, fair and viable settlement of the Cypriot issues on the basis of relevant UN Security Council resolution, inter-Cypriot agreements at the high level of 1977 and 1979," Zakharova continued. "As a permanent member of UN Security Council, we will continue supporting efforts by Cypriot communities to develop such a solution that will be suitable for all Cypriots - Greeks and Turks," she stressed.
"At the moment, when inter-community negotiations are in full swing, we see our task in facilitating the establishment of favorable external conditions for negotiations Cypriot sides," she continued. "We encourage our partners in UN Security Council, first of all, in the ‘quintet’ of permanent members," she said.
Russia considers "unacceptable any pressure from outside on the Cypriot sides, any attempts to force a decision on them, artificial deadlines for negotiations and arbitrage," Zakharova stressed. "it is worth remembering that the problem that has existed for more than 40 years, cannot be solved momentarily," she added. "We are confident that a fair and firm settlement can only result from voluntary agreement of Cypriots themselves," Zakharova concluded.