President of the Republic Nikos Anastasiades has said that the presence of foreign warships in Cyprus’ ports demonstrates without doubt the stabilizing role that our country can play in the region.
President Anastasiades was speaking to the press following a visit he paid today to the Russian heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, which is being docked at the port of Limassol, on the south coast of the island.
Accompanied by Defence Minister Fotis Fotiou, the Head of the President`s office, Panayiotis Antoniou, National Guard chief, lieutenant-general Stylianos Nasis and Chief of the Cyprus Navy Captain Kyriakos Pochanis, President Anastasiadis was transferred to the Russian aircraft carrier by a National Guard patrol boat, where he was welcomed by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Stanislav V. Osadchiy and the captain of the ship.
Upon President’s boarding the ship, a military contingent attributed honours and the national anthems of the two countries played.
Welcoming the crew to Cyprus, President of the Republic said that “you’re welcomed here because you are our friends but also because with your mission to neutralize chemical weapons you secure peace”.
In his statement, President Anastasiades said that he feels great joy because Cyprus is hosting within its territorial waters one of the important vessels of war and peace of the Russian Federation”.
He expressed his satisfaction over the visit which “urges us to discuss what we seek, namely to deepening and strengthening traditional historical relations always maintained between the Republic and the former Soviet Union and now the Russian Federation”.
He noted that” Cyprus, as a stabilizing factor can host peaceful missions, such as the visit of the aircraft carrier, but also of many other countries” and added that in this context, the Republic of Cyprus will continue to offer every facility in every UN mission.
President also expressed his wish to further strengthen existing relations between Cyprus and Russia, adding that “cooperation will continue for the mutual benefit of both countries.”
He also referred to the longstanding relations between the two countries and stressed that Russia “was always on our side regarding the basic principles for the solution of the Cyprus problem and we are grateful for this”.
“We will continue to work with our Russian friends to strengthen our relations, which they are not going to harm efforts to strengthen our relations with other friendly countries.”
In another question he answered that Cyprus and Russia are expected to agree both on defense and other fields while preparations are underway for a meeting of the Cyprus President with the President of the Russian Federation in the near future.
Talks resumed after the leaders of the island’s two communities, namely President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, agreed on a seven-point Joint Declaration outlining their vision of a reunified Cyprus.
