Russia will only support a decision which is taken by the Cypriot communities themselves, without external pressure, a note about Moscow`s position during the seventy-fourth session of the UN General Assembly, on various issues, among which the Cyprus problem, says. The note has been posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry`s website.

“As regards the Cyprus issue, we will only support a decision which is taken by the Cypriot communities themselves, without external pressure. It should be based on UNSC resolutions and provide for the creation of a two-community, two-zone federation with single and indivisible sovereignty, nationality and international legal personality,” the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.

It added that the current system of security guarantees for the communities is outdated and should be put under UN Security Council control.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry about the meeting which Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had on Thursday in New York, with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said that “during their conversation, they reviewed the current status of Russian-Cypriot relations in various fields and the prospects for their development.”

“The sides compared their positions on a number of international and regional matters of mutual interest, including the Cypriot peace settlement and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean region,” the press release added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Turkey has ignored numerous UN resolutions calling for the withdrawal of the Turkish troops and respect of the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus. 

Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The last round of negotiations, in the summer of 2017, at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.