Russia and Cyprus drafting agreement on Russians' evacuation from Middle East if hostilities erupt there
NICOSIA. Nov 8 (Interfax) - Russia and Cyprus are close to signing an agreement to evacuate Russian citizens from the Middle East should it prove necessary, Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides told reporters in Nicosia on Monday.
"The work is almost in its final stages already on an agreement on humanitarian aid that Cyprus may extend to Russia due to its geographical position. One of the key elements is an agreement on assistance that Cyprus could extend to the Russian Federation to evacuate Russian citizens from the Middle East region, should such a need arise," he said.
The minister said that it would also involve other kinds of humanitarian aid in accordance with international law.
Russian ships, including Russian naval ships, have long been able to enter Cypriot ports, he said.
However, information about Russia's plans to set up a naval base in Cyprus is untrue, which was confirmed by recent remarks of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kasoulides said.
"These statements put an end to the endless rumors and talk that Russia has allegedly asked for a military base to be organized in Cyprus," he said.