The Cypriot government is studying a statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Cyprus issue, government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said Tuesday.

The response came after Putin said, during a visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Moscow, that Russia supports UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue and the termination of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community is tied to the settlement of the issue.

"The diplomatic contacts between Cyprus and the Russian federation at all levels are constant and Russia's positions on Cyprus are known," Chrysostomides said.

Meanwhile, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said "the support Russia gives us is based on principles and I think Russia will continue to have the same position."

Cyprus has been divided into Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north since 1974 when Turkish troops entered the north of the island following a failed Greek Cypriot coup seeking union with Greece.

Source: Xinhua