Russia Insists On U.n.-sponsored Cypriot Dialogue: Putin

Russia proceeds in its stance on the Cypriot issue from the necessity of a Greek-Turkish community dialogue to be sponsored by the UN Secretary-General, said President Vladimir Putin as he and President Konstandinos Stephanopoulos of Greece were jointly addressing a news conference in Athens. The Russian top welcomed a recent conference of the two Cypriot communities' leaders, and is enthusiastic about the Greek contribution to the Cyprus settlement cause, added President Putin. President Stephanopoulos, in his turn, announced his approval of the Cyprus conference. He is sure it will spectacularly promote settlement. The President spoke for Cyprus to join the European Union, and thanked Vladimir Putin for Russia's principled and constructive stance on the issue.