Turkish Cypriot FM criticizes Russia's remarks on settlement efforts

LEFKOSA (A.A) - January 31, 2012 - Turkish Cypriot foreign minister has defied a statement from Russia rejecting a possible international conference to find a settlement to the division of Cyprus. "A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry Monday on a tri-partite summit meeting in Greentree on January 22-24 encourages the Greek Cypriot administration's uncompromising attitude and it is unhelpful to efforts exerted for a lasting and fair solution in the island," Huseyin Ozgurgun said in a press release on Tuesday. Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed opposition to "a premature international conference" and "outside attempts to speed up the settlement process" as well as to any arbitration effort. Ozgurgun described the Russian statement as "unfortunate," calling Russia to act "more responsibly" as a permanent member of the Security Council. Turkish Cypriot President Dervis Eroglu and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias gathered earlier this month with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in their fifth tri-partite meeting. Ban has said he could call for an international conference late April or early May if his chief advisor presented a "positive report" on settlement talks between the two Cypriot leaders.