NICOSIA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday for talks with the Cyprus government concerning bilateral and international affairs.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) speaks to the press as his Cypriot counterpart Marcos Kyprianou smiles in Nicosia, capital of Cyprus, Nov.4, 2009. Lavrov arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday for talks with the Cyprus government concerning bilateral and international affairs. (Xinhua/PIO) Photo Gallery>>>

    Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrey Nesterenko said that the visit aims at continuing the active political dialogue between Moscow and Nicosia on a broad agenda of bilateral and international issues.

    The visit takes place on the basis of the bilateral Joint Declaration to deepen friendly relations and multi-faceted cooperation between Russia and Cyprus, signed on November 19, 2008.

    Cyprus Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou said Cyprus and Russia have maintained excellent relations, which will be enhanced by the signing of a Program of Cooperation between the two countries in the fields of science, education and culture and the approval of the Plan of Consultations between the two Foreign Ministries.

    Lavrov first had a 30-minute meeting with President Demetris Christofias, a Soviet Union educated historian, and will hold talks with Kyprianou later Wednesday.

    Christofias, who is also the Greek Cypriot leader, has been engaged in direct negotiations with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat since September 2008 aiming to reunify the divided island.