MOSCOW, February 23. /TASS/. President Nikos Anastasiades of Cyprus on Thursday had a conference with editors-in-chief of Russian mass media at TASS headquarters on Tverskoi Boulevard street in downtown Moscow.

The president praised his visit to Moscow. He also spoke about the prospects for a political dialogue with Russia, expressed his viewpoint regarding the anti-Russian sanctions and answered questions concerning the settlement of the decades-old Cyprus problem.

Nikos Anastasiades looked very pleased with the menu of the lunch he was offered at TASS: Russian/Ukrainian beetroot and cabbage soup borshch and Russian pelmenis (dumplings), which the invitees to the lunch jokingly described as an 'anti-sanction menu'.

He raised a traditional Russian toast 'To the health of everyone present here' and pointed out particularly friendly relations between the Cypriots and Russians.

Anastasiades stressed the respect, which the people of Cyprus had for Russian President Vladimir Putin for the delicate and balanced position he displayed in international affairs.