United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, concluding his first official visit to Cyprus on Wednesday, met with Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, as well as other stakeholders, in the capital Nicosia. He described the discussions with leaders Nikos Christodoulides and Tufan Erhürman as “frank and constructive.”

Guterres reaffirmed the UN's ongoing commitment to assist both communities in their pursuit of a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue. Highlighting recent efforts, he noted that since 2017, six meetings have taken place in Switzerland, Germany, and the United States focused on rebuilding confidence after years without a formal settlement track.

Expressing solidarity with the people of Cyprus, Guterres stressed, “this is the moment when all efforts must be made to rebuild trust.” Both community leaders assured him of their determination to continue collaborating with his Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin.

Based on these discussions, Guterres announced his decision to convene another 5+1 meeting after adequate preparations on confidence building, methodology, and substance, taking into account the convergences already achieved. The 5+1 format includes the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, guarantor countries Greece, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom, along with the United Nations.

This renewed diplomatic push aims to address the decades-long division of the Mediterranean island and foster a path toward reconciliation and peace.

Sources