Anastasiades: “South Cyprus and Russia are engaged in a substantial and fruitful political dialogue”

The governments of South Cyprus and Russia intend to continue upgrading and enriching the multifaceted links between the two countries, Leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration   Nicos Anastasiades said Saturday, addressing the 10th South Cyprus-Russian Festival.

Anastasiades noted that South Cyprus and Russia are engaged in a substantial and fruitful political dialogue.

The two countries “share a historic relationship, characterized by sincere friendship and mutually beneficial collaborations that we greatly value, including in the fields of economy, investment, trade and tourism” Anastasiades said, noting that “this relationship, which is reflected also on the political level, is further entrenched in our common cultural, educational and religious bonds”.

He said that the relations between South Cyprus and Russia have evolved in time, “creating the formidable background against which a substantial and fruitful political dialogue currently takes place. The goal of all this is of course a mutually valuable cooperation and coordination, benefiting our two peoples and two countries”.

Anastasiades noted that many Russians have established a home in Cyprus and a very large number of Russian citizens continue to trust South Cyprus maintaining businesses and investments during a particularly difficult period. He added that the government seeks to facilitate even further the ever increasing flow of Russian tourists to the island.

 Russian Ambassador to South Cyprus Stanislav Osadchiy has said that the cooperation between South Cyprus and Russia is based on a historic, political, cultural and religious tradition and that the South Cyprus – Russian Festival constitutes a benchmark that reflects the strong ties between the two countries, which have been reinforced during the last years.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the festival, in the coastal town of Limassol, Osadchiy said that while 10 years have been completed since the first South Cyprus – Russian Festival, this year also marks the 70 th anniversary of the victory in the Second World War, and thanked Anastasiades, who was present at the ceremony, for his participation in the events in Russia to celebrate the Victory Day.