Russia has not changed its position on the Cyprus issue, the Russian embassy in the EU stressed in a written reply to EURACTIV, following recent statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who did not use the word "so-called" in front of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", sparking reactions in Athens.
Speaking in late February, when Moscow recognized the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, Lavrov had said:
"The only conflict where one of the parties refuses to talk to the other, and this is fully supported by the West, is the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Take Cyprus: The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, there is a negotiation process, the United Nations is mediating."
In an interview with EURACTIV on 25 February, Russian Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizov was asked why Lavrov did not use the word "so-called".
EURACTIV did not publish this particular excerpt of the interview as it asked additional clarifying questions to avoid misinterpretation.
Chizov had responded as follows: "I can explain why [LAVROV] said that. He used it as a basis for the thesis that there are precedents of dialogue between two sides, where one does not officially recognize the other. The intercommunal talks in Cyprus are a clear indication. I know from my personal experience that the UN Secretary General facilitates this dialogue, bringing the two sides together on an equal footing. This is an invention."
"While one side is an internationally recognized government of the Republic of Cyprus and the other is the unrecognized TRNC, which is in fact recognized by only one country, Turkey."
"This does not prevent the President of the Republic of Cyprus from participating in these discussions in his alter ego, as the leader of the Greek Cypriot community. And the so-called president of the so-called TRNC, as the leader of the Turkish Cypriots. They have not made much progress, I must admit," he said.
EURACTIV asked the Russian embassy whether the fact that the Cypriot president is engaged in talks with the Turkish Cypriot leader means that the official government recognizes the name TRNC and the answer was the following. The issue is thoroughly explained in the excerpt from the interview shared with you by Ambassador Vladimir Chizov."
Asked why Lavrov did not use the word "so-called" before "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", the Russian embassy replied:
"You should not look for the black cat in a dark room, especially if it is not there. Refer to Russia's repeatedly stated official position on the issue," the embassy said, stressing that Moscow has not changed its stance on the Cyprus issue.
Source.gr
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