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MOSCOW, November 26 /TASS/. The Russian side has offered Mustafa Akinci, the leader of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the "green line" during the latter’s visit to Cyprus on December 1-2, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
"We offered a compromise option of meeting Lavrov on the ‘green line’ to the leader of Cypriot Turks. The proposal would have taken account of the interests of both communities residing on the island but it was turned down," she explained.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is due to pay a working visit to Cyprus on December 1-2 to discuss the Cyprus settlement and the Syrian conflict.
Lavrov is due to meet with the Cyprus president and foreign minister. The sides will exchange views on Russia’s relations with the EU. "It is important to discuss the situation in the Cypriot settlement and talk about the situation in Syria," Zakharova said earlier.
The diplomat noted that Nicosia "reacted immediately and with full understanding of Russia’s position" after Turkey downed the Su-24 bomber on Tuesday.