Республика Кипр
RUSSIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SERGEY LAVROV MEETS WITH MEHMET ALI TALAT, GENERAL CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT COMMUNITY
Unofficial translation from Russian
PRESS RELEASE
On June 16, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, who was in Istanbul to attend the session of the OIC Foreign Ministers, held a meeting with Mehmet Ali Talat, General Chairman of the Republican People's Party of the Turkish Cypriot Community.
During the conversation, special attention was devoted to the current situation in Cyprus settlement. There was stressed on the Russian side the importance of continuing efforts in the search of a solution to the Cyprus problem with due regard to the interests of both Cypriot communities and with the UN's leading role being preserved. Readiness to assist this process also was reaffirmed.
By common agreement, the fostering by the Turkish Cypriot community of foreign economic ties in forms not contrary to the key UN resolutions on Cyprus could facilitate the achievement of this goal, as well as helping to equalize the level of socioeconomic development of the two parts of the island.
June 17, 2004