Transcript of the begining of the meeting:
Meeting with President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades
Dmitry Medvedev: Mr President, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Moscow! This is your first visit to our country as the head of the Republic of Cyprus. Furthermore, this is a notable year: We are marking the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our states.
I visited your country in 2010. I have a very warm memory of the Republic of Cyprus. At that time some agreements were reached to expand cooperation in a number of areas. Today, too, you will have talks with President Putin, and a large number of new and useful documents will be signed.
I would also like to note that you are going to visit St Petersburg, which is my and Mr Putin’s home town.
I am confident that your visit will be a success and will be marked by the expansion of cooperation between our countries, which, in our opinion, will be very useful.
Meeting with President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades
Nicos Anastasiades (via interpreter): Mr Prime Minister, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of our country, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for this visit and for your consistent support of our republic since its establishment.
My decision not to succumb to the pressure from numerous and different forces – not to make an official visit to your country – shows our resolve and our desire to maintain and continue our historically close ties and relations with Russia. And this is the purpose of my presence here.
Mr Prime Minister, we already have 40 agreements and treaties, plus the 11 that will be signed today. This will further strengthen our relations.
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