The Republic of Cyprus is urged to seek for ways to recover its attractiveness for Russian tourists.

The Greek part of the island had always been one of the most popular destinations for Russian tourists, but having joined the EU in May 2004 the Republic of Cyprus cancelled visa-free regime for Russia.

The problem has been clearly stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin at an annual news conference in Moscow. He suggested that Russia and Cyprus return to the pre-EU visa free relations.

“If no such procedures are introduced, then more and more people, who have no interest whatever in politics, believe me, they don’t even know what is going on in Cyprus, will go to Turkey and the northern part of Cyprus, because there they let them in without visas,” he said. “They turn up at the border, they get a stamp in their passport, they pay, I don’t know, 20 dollars, or 25, and they go and take their holiday.”

Sources: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060131/43261147.html , http://www.cyprus-mail.com