OREANDA-NEWS. November 05, 2009. Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov paid an official visit to the Republic of Cyprus on November 4.

Lavrov was received by President of the Republic of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias. The high development level of Russian-Cyprus relations, buttressed by a long tradition of friendship and understanding between the two countries, was confirmed and an intention to continue their intensive cooperation in various areas on the basis of the Joint Declaration on further intensification of the relations of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cyprus, signed on November 19, 2008 during the official visit to Russia by Cyprus President Christofias, was expressed. Also, the situation in the intercommunity talks on Cyprus settlement was discussed.

The Minister also met with President of the House of Representatives Marios Karoyan. They examined possibilities for further deepening the parliamentary dimension of cooperation.

During the talks with Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Kyprianou, the sides exchanged views on a wide range of bilateral and international issues. Ways to increase Russian-Cyprus cooperation at the interagency level were discussed, as well as the prospects of bilateral collaboration in various international institutions: the UN, the Russia-EU mechanisms, the OSCE. The similarity or identity of Russia and Cyprus’s approaches to many pressing international problems, including European security, Middle East settlement, and the situation around Iran was underlined.

In discussing the issues of the Cyprus settlement there was confirmed Russia's immutable principled position in favor of a just, viable and comprehensive solution based on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the voluntary consent of the Cypriots themselves – Greeks and Turks.

Following the talks a Cooperation Program between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cyprus in the Fields of Science, Education and Culture for 2009-2012 was signed. The Ministers also endorsed a Plan of Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cyprus for 2010-2011.