Russia supports the achievement of a just, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem for the benefit of the entire population of the island and in the interests of strengthening security and stability in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

In a message to Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on the occasion of the Day of Independence on October 1st, Putin points out that the two countries are tied together by friendship as well as cultural and spiritual affinity.

He expresses his conviction that further enhancement of constructive dialogue and fruitful bilateral cooperation in various fields, meets the interests of the peoples of Russia and Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in the summer of 2017, at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.