MOSCOW, March 9 (RIA Novosti) - Russia approved the Cypriot authorities' decision to demolish a wall running through the heart of capital Nicosia dividing the Greek and Turkish parts of the island, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.
Cyprus has been divided into an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north since 1974, when Turkey occupied the north.
"Moscow considers this decision a step toward building trust between the two sides," Mikhail Kamynin said.
The UN Cyprus mission was closed following the Greek Cypriots' rejection of the 2004 summer referendum to unite the two parts of the island according to Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General, scenario.
