(December 22, 2024)

First of all, I would like to welcome all the readers of your reputable publication and wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I am glad to have the opportunity to answer your questions at the end of the year.

Recent events in Syria seem to be escalating the already tense situation in the Middle East. Are Russia’s geostrategic goals in this region affected?

Of course, we are closely monitoring the development of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. We sincerely wish the friendly Syrian people to successfully overcome all the difficulties that arise in connection with the transition period the country is going through. We believe that the way to a sustainable normalization of the situation lies through the launch of an inclusive intra-Syrian dialogue aimed at achieving national accord and promoting a comprehensive political settlement in accordance with the basic principles laid down in UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

I would also like to mention the fact that Muslims and Christians have been living side by side in Syria for many centuries. Damascus is the residence of Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, the head of the Church of Antioch, which maintains sisterhood with the Russian Orthodox Church. We hope that under the new Syrian leadership, the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in the country will be respected.

It is important for Russia that the Syrians themselves determine their future. We are convinced that the relations of friendship and mutual respect that have historically developed between the peoples of our countries will continue to develop successfully.

After the Crans-Montana collapse in 2017, there was a slight dynamic in the Cyprus problem. As a representative of a permanent member state of the UN Security Council, how would you comment on the developments on the Cyprus issue?

Quite a lot of time has passed since 2017. It has become obvious that it is necessary to launch a Cyprus settlement in order to achieve a comprehensive, viable and just solution that meets, first of all, the interests of the Cypriot communities themselves, as well as the task of ensuring peace, security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are closely following the development of the situation around the island problem and the ongoing efforts of the UN Secretary General on this difficult track. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia is ready to continue to provide all necessary assistance to the World Organization in this matter.

It seems that today’s international relations are characterized by NATO’s desire to expand its Alliance. How would you comment on the discussions about Cyprus joining NATO?

The NATO military bloc is essentially a vestige of a bygone era. In an attempt to gain a “second wind”, he became directly involved in the hybrid war unleashed against Russia and stubbornly seeks to spread hegemony to all new territories of the globe. Obviously, the global security situation would be completely different today if it were not for the alliance’s desire to draw as many states as possible into its ranks at any cost.

As for discussions about Cyprus’ possible accession to NATO, a balanced assessment of the prospects and, most importantly, the consequences of such a step remains, of course, an internal matter for the leadership of the republic and its citizens. Judging by the recently published data from the Eurobarometer opinion poll for October-November 2024, the attitude towards the bloc on the island is far from unambiguous: 77% of Cypriot residents perceive the alliance with distrust.

The peoples of Russia and Cyprus have maintained fraternal relations for decades, and both countries have been hospitable to each other’s peoples. Tell me, from your experience, has this changed against the background of the current international situation?

Indeed, the peoples of Russia and Cyprus have long-standing traditions of friendship and mutually respectful cooperation. During my time here, in constant communication with the residents of your beautiful island, I have become convinced that the majority of Cypriots have never ceased to consider Russia a friendly country and Russians as brothers. I can assure you that Russians have no less warm feelings towards Cyprus, since such relations are based on common spiritual and moral values shared by our peoples, mutual interest in culture and historical heritage, and close friendly and often family ties between people.

Today, there is an increasing sense of disagreement in Cyprus with the anti-Russian rhetoric of the so-called “collective West.” Cypriots know history well and retain a critical perception that allows them to independently assess the events taking place in the world and form their own attitudes towards the origins of various conflicts and crises.

I am convinced that no external forces or collective attitudes will be able to weaken, much less break, the traditionally strong bonds of friendly trust and mutual respect that always bind the very close peoples of Russia and Cyprus.

I sincerely wish all readers of Kharavga good health, family well-being and the realization of all constructive ideas and plans in the coming 2025!

https://cyprus.mid.ru/ru/press-centre/news/intervyu_chrezvychaynogo_i_polnomochnogo_posla_rossiyskoy_federatsii_gazete_kharavgi/