MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The European Union should recognize the importance of restoring good ties with Russia, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said in a televised interview on Russia’s Vesti v Subbotu weekly news program on Saturday.
"The European Union should understand how important it is: the restoration of good relations with Russia. Because both historically and now Russia is one of the main partners for European countries," Anastasiades said.
He noted Russia’s role in brokering the 2014 destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons and the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, as well as the February 2015 Minsk agreement on settling the conflict in southeastern Ukraine, in his argument against underestimating the country’s role in global affairs.
"Not to mention the fact that Russia has always been Europe’s trade partner. Before sanctions turnover reached $300 billion a year," Anastasiades underscored.
Anastasiades countered the impression among Eastern European leaders of him as "Russia’s henchman" by declaring himself a "European with a correct assessment of circumstances and events," leading him to understand Russia’s importance on the world stage.