As tensions rise Moscow keeps equal distances from Ankara, Nicosia

By George Gilson

With tensions between Turkey on the one hand and Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the US growing steadily, it was announced in Nicosia that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to visit the island at an undetermined time, even as Moscow's Ambassador to Athens Andrey Maslov expressed fears over the escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Russia has so far kept a stance of equal distances between Ankara and Nicosia.

"We think that during this difficult time in this region any step that undermines the potential for negotiations must be avoided," Russian Ambassador to Nicosia Stanislav Osadchiy said, adding that it is in Cyprus' interest that Moscow has close ties with both Ankara and Nicosia. He said that Moscow conveys messages to Ankara when the Republic of Cyprus requests that.

"We really believe that all differences can be resolved at the negotiating table. We support this and hope something is done as soon as possible that would lead to a solution of the Cyprus problem," Osadchiy said.

Effectively, Moscow is tacitly acquiescing to Ankara's direct violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.

Osadchiy said that Lavrov is in close touch with his Cypriot counterpart, Nikos Christodoulides.

Ankara started gas drilling in the Republic of Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone on 3 May but Moscow has not directly taken a stand on this particular violation of international law.

Greek Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis and his Cypriot counterpart Savvas Angelides discussed the situation exhaustively in talks in Nicosia today.

"In line with our established approach, fully composed, we will not be dragged into actions that lead to tension in the region," Angelides said.

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