EU-Russia sanctions hurt Cyprus most - ambassador
MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax) - Russia's restrictive measures retaliating against the EU sanctions have done serious harm to Cyprus, and the Cypriot tourism business is facing a major decline, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Russia George Kasoulides said.
"Implications of the sanctions and the retaliatory measures of Russia have been very serious for Cyprus. Statistic data shows that Cyprus has suffered the biggest damage amongst EU countries," he said at a press conference on Tuesday.
The damage was particularly large in the Cypriot farming and tourism industries, he said.
"Approximately 50% of our food exports have been affected," he said, adding that the tourism industry had also suffered damages.
"We think that a decline [in tourist arrivals] will be very significant this year. This is not because Russians have stopped loving Cyprus but because of the ruble exchange rate," he said.
According to the ambassador, Cyprus was opposed to anti-Russian sanctions from the very start.
"We have said many times before and I repeat that Cyprus declared its distrust for the effectiveness of sanctions imposed [by the EU] on Russia from the very beginning," he remarked.
