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Russia Backs Resumption of Talks on Cyprus Issue: Envoy
A Russian envoy said on Friday that Russia Backs the resumption of the UN-sponsored proximity talks on the Cyprus issue.
After a meeting with Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides, Russian special representative for the Cyprus issue Vladimir Prygin reiterated Russia's backing of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's good offices for Cyprus, adding that Russia's stance on the issue is constant and consistent.
Prygin arrived in Cyprus on Thursday after visiting Greece and Turkey in order to evaluate the current situation and the perspectives on the Cyprus issue.
Later in the day, he also met with President of Cyprus' House of Representatives Demetris Christofias and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.
Russia believes the present time is very delicate and crucial for the Cyprus issue and hopes that "the negotiating procedure would soon get on the track again," the Russian envoy said.
Cyprus has been divided into the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities since Turkish troops invaded and took the northern third of the island in 1974 after a failed coup by the Greek Cypriots seeking union with Greece.
The Turkish Cypriots unilaterally declared a statehood in northern Cyprus in 1983, which is only recognized by Turkey.
The U.N.-sponsored proximity talks between the two sides, which began in December 1999, ended last November when Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash declared them dead and refused to participate in a new round of talks in January.
Denktash demanded a recognition of the breakaway state before he returns to the negotiating table.
According to the Cyprus News Agency, Prygin will visit northern Cyprus on Saturday, where he will meet Denktash.
Local media also reported that Annan had expressed the hope that the U.N. would be able to get the two Cypriot parties "back to the negotiating table" by the end of the year, but he had also said that he was not in a position to set a date.
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