Key facts
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is seeking to restart peace talks for Cyprus.
- Cyprus has been divided since 1974.
- Guterres met separately with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman.
- Guterres described the meetings as productive and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting a renewed political process.
- Greece, Turkey, and the UK are Cyprus' guarantor powers.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated his commitment to efforts to restart negotiations over Cyprus after holding separate meetings with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman. Guterres described the discussions as productive and stated he would continue his efforts to support a renewed political process.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded following a Greek-inspired coup. The internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, an EU member, controls the predominantly Greek Cypriot south, while the Turkish Cypriot-administered north is recognized only by Turkey. A UN buffer zone separates the two sides and runs through the capital, Nicosia.
After meeting Christodoulides, Guterres described his trip as a visit of solidarity and said he remained strongly committed to supporting both communities. He noted that the current instability in the wider region made progress on Cyprus particularly important, stating, "If there is a moment in which the solution of the Cyprus problem is important, it is now." He emphasized that the UN could facilitate and support the process but could not impose a settlement.
President Christodoulides stated that the Secretary-General's presence indicated his commitment to resolving the Cyprus issue based on UN Security Council resolutions. He added that the international community has a responsibility to ensure respect for international law.
Following his meeting with Erhürman, Guterres reiterated his commitment to resuming negotiations. The Greek Cypriot side has expressed a desire for a broader UN-led conference involving the two Cypriot sides and the three guarantor powers (Greece, Turkey, and the UK) to discuss the main issues of the dispute. These separate meetings are intended to determine if sufficient common ground exists for substantive talks to resume.