Cyprus and Russia on Thursday signed more than a dozen cooperation agreements, further advancing the ties between the two countries. The signings came during a one-day trip by President Dmitry Medvedev to Cyprus, the first-ever visit by a Russian head of state to the Mediterranean island. Medvedev and Christofias held an hour-long private meeting before they were joined by assistants for official talks. Christofias welcomed Medvedev at the British colonial-style Presidential Palace, telling the Russian president that his visit was of 'historical significance.' 'These documents mark a new impetus in the wide-ranging cooperation of our two countries in the political, economical and cultural fields,' Christofias told reporters after the meeting. Paramount among the documents signed was an Action Plan setting out an agenda on which the two countries will cooperate over the next three years. Cyprus government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the plan reaffirms Russia's support for Greek Cypriot positions in the current effort to find a solution for the decades-long Cyprus problem. Cyprus has been divided into a Turkish Cypriot north and a Greek Cypriot south since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened in a coup by Greek army officers. Ankara still maintains a heavy military presence in the north. Christofias, who also acts as the Greek Cypriot leader, is in negotiations with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu that are aimed at a finding a way to reunify the island. Stefanou said the action plan states Russia's opposition to methods followed in 2004 that involved an international conference on Cyprus and arbitration by the United Nations, which resulted in the submission of a solution proposal. That solution, which came to be known as the Annan Plan, named after then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, was consequently rejected in a referendum by three quarters of the Greek Cypriot voters. The voters said the plan heavily favored the Turkish side. Medvedev told journalists after the talks that Russia is steadfastly against outside intervention or arbitration in the Cyprus problem. 'We are opposed to any pressure from outside which is customary in the international community, with the aim of reaching a solution for a unified state in Cyprus, with a single sovereignty and one international representation,' Medvedev said, echoing a standard political position of the Greek Cypriot side. The Russian president also said Moscow's enhanced ties with Ankara will not harm its relations with Nicosia. Medvedev had earlier said in an article published in a Cypriot newspaper to coincide with his visit that Russia and Cyprus share the same views on issues of international politics. He hailed support offered by Cyprus toward the Russian proposal for shaping a new European Security convention. Medvedev also said Cyprus, despite its small size, is among the five top investors in Russia and is on top of the list as far as cumulative investments are concerned. Cyprus and Russia also signed an agreement to avoid double taxation, which is expected to further expand economic co- operation between the two countries. There are tens of thousands Russians and people from other former Soviet republics living in Cyprus. Many large Russian companies have registered in the small European Union state, where they can enjoy an attractively low corporate tax of 10 percent. 