Moscow corrects relations with unfriendly countries — Russian Ambassador

Moscow is definitely ready to adjust relations with countries that have fallen into the category of "unfriendly" in line with a constructive dialogue on the basis of mutual respect. This was stated by the Russian Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus Murat Zyazikov in an interview for the Sunday edition of the newspaper Simerini.

"As the situation develops, Moscow is definitely making adjustments to relations with states that have joined the "unfriendly" camp either on their own initiative or under pressure from circumstances. At the same time, we always remain open to restoring constructive dialogue on equal, mutually respectful terms," the head of the Russian diplomatic mission said.

Responding to the request of the publication to assess the solidarity of Cyprus with the position The EU and the USA during the conflict on In Ukraine, in the settlement process of which progress has been made against the background of a change in the political paradigm in Washington, Zyazikov said:

"We have repeatedly stressed that support for anti-Russian illegal sanctions, even for reasons of 'Euro-Atlantic solidarity', is disappointing. We understand that Cyprus also has partners who would like even more — to change local legislation for them, expel Russian investors, and less often recall the common history with Russia. I think it is best to judge the consequences of such steps by the Cypriots themselves, who from various rostrums are already quite openly talking about the tangible damage from the restrictions imposed on our country."

The Russian Ambassador noted that these restrictions affected the diverse cooperation between Cyprus and the Russian side that had been developing for decades, which reliably provided jobs and a solid income for local economic operators.

In response to the newspaper's request to forecast the development of relations between Moscow and Nicosia for the next decade, the head of the diplomatic mission recalled the 65-year history of diplomatic relations without five months Russia and Cyprus. He stressed that in Russia values the long-standing traditions of friendship and mutually beneficial partnership with the Mediterranean island, with which our country is connected by centuries of interaction in various fields and where about 150 thousand of our compatriots and a huge number of mixed families live, deeply and qualitatively integrated into all spheres of life in Cyprus.

"The public opinion polls regularly held here confirm the fact that the overwhelming majority of Cypriots oppose the imposed anti-Russian Western mainstream. I am deeply convinced that close historical, cultural and spiritual ties, as well as feelings of sincere mutual sympathy between our peoples, will ultimately allow our countries to move to a qualitatively new stage of development of constructive bilateral cooperation at all levels and in all areas within the framework of the emerging just multipolar world order, taking into account current geopolitical changes," he said. Zyazikov.