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Russia supports initiative to reach Cyprus settlement by May 2016

Moscow would welcome the establishment of durable peace in Cyprus, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson says

MOSCOW, November 12 /TASS/. Russia welcomes Cyprus’s initiative to settle the conflict between the island’s Cypriot and Turkish communities by May 2016, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

"We are closely watching the ongoing negotiations between the Cypriot and Turkish communities on the island," she said.

"Naturally, the negotiations are difficult. This is explainable: the problem is too deep-rooted and complicated," the diplomat went on to say.

Zakahrova said that the Cyprus leadership had recently announced that the Cyprus settlement could be reached before May 2016. "Of course, Russia which is a UN Security Council member, would welcome the establishment of durable peace in Cyprus. The sooner, the better," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said adding that the Cyprus settlement would contribute to stabilizing the situation in Eastern Mediterranean.