Cyprus president to visit Russia to sign bilateral agreements

President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades is scheduled to visit Russia next week for diplomatic talks. On February 13, delegations from both countries initialed a protocol following the 8th session of the Russia-Cyprus intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation. The protocol was signed by Russia's Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nikolay Podguzov and Cyprus's Minister of Finance Harris Georgiades. The formal signing ceremony for this document is set for February 25 in Moscow. During the visit, the parties expect to sign at least 10 agreements covering culture, education, military-technical cooperation, and joint efforts against terrorism, drug trafficking, and crime. President Anastasiades intends to discuss the Cyprus problem, specifically citing Turkey's position for the current deadlock in negotiations, and thank Russia for its stance at the United Nations. Potential areas for future development include renewable energy, agriculture, and tourism.