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Putin: Cyprus will allow Russian vessels to call at its ports

The foreign ministers of Russia and Cyprus have signed a memorandum on naval cooperation between the two countries’ Defense Ministries
Vladimir Putin and his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian president's press service/TASS
Vladimir Putin and his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades
© Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian president's press service/TASS

NOVO-OGARYOVO, February 25. /TASS/. The Republic of Cyprus will allow Russian vessels taking part in the fight against terrorism and piracy to call at its ports, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday after talks with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades.

The foreign ministers of Russia and Cyprus, Sergey Lavrov and Ioannis Kasoulides, have signed a memorandum on naval cooperation between the two countries’ Defense Ministries. The ceremony took place in the presence of the presidents of both countries.

The sides also signed a memorandum of understanding between the Russian news agency "Invest in Russia" and the Cypriot investment promotion agency, a memorandum of understanding between the Bank of Russia and Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.

In addition, the parties signed a memorandum of understanding between Russia’s Education Ministry and Ministry of Finance of Cyprus on scientific and technical cooperation, a programme of cooperation between Russia and Cyprus in the field of science, education and culture for 2015-2018, a military cooperation agreement between the governments of Russia and Cyprus, as well as intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism. The sides also signed a protocol of the eighth meeting of the Russian-Cypriot intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation.

The presidents of Russia and Cyprus signed a joint action program between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cyprus for 2015-2017.

Russia, Cyprus can boost mutual trade by joint efforts

Putin said he is certain that Russia and Cyprus by exerting joint efforts are capable of boosting their mutual trade turnover.

"In 2014, the trade turnover between the two countries declined, which was caused mainly by the market situation factors - oil price downturn," Putin said after talks with President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades.

"The EU sanctions against Russia and our response measures also had a negative effect. However, I’m certain that by the joint consistent efforts we are capable of mending the situation and returning our bilateral trade to the growth path," said the Russian president.

Vladimir Putin said Russia will help Cyprus to liquidate the aftermath of the debt crisis.

"Russia will continue to provide assistance to Cyprus in liquidating the aftermath of the debt crisis," Vladimir Putin said, adding that the two leaders had agreed to stimulate companies and banks to further win-win cooperation.

Russia has already provided a €2.5 billion stabilization loan to Cyprus, and it has also restructured the loan on favorable terms, the president said. Russian VTB Capital investment bank and Cyprus Finance Ministry successfully placed Cypriot sovereign Eurobonds worth €750 million for the first time since the crisis.

"We think that consequently Russia has contributed and continues to contribute to normalization of the situation in the Eurozone after the difficult 2011-2012 period," Vladimir Putin said.

Solution of Cyprus problem should be mutually acceptable

The Russian president believes the solution of the Cyprus problem should be mutually acceptable and the Cypriots themselves should elaborate it.

Anastasiadis said on his part he was confident of Russia’s capability to play a decisive role in the resolution of the Cypriot knot, which is more than 40 years old.