Nicosia:The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties, engaged in the bicommunal dialogue at the Ledra Palace, have reaffirmed their dedication to establishing the conditions necessary for a 5+1 international conference on Cyprus.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the leaders and representatives of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties, participating under the auspices of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Nicosia, met today for their regular session at the Ledra Palace Hotel. The meeting was hosted by the United Cyprus Party (BKP) and focused on the topic, "Considering that the Cyprus Problem is an international issue, how can we move towards convening a 5+1 international conference?"

The political parties emphasized the international nature of the Cyprus issue and reiterated their commitment to fostering the necessary conditions for the 5+1 international conference. They also expressed readiness to support constructive preparations and confidence-building efforts aimed at facilitating meaningful, result-oriented negotiations to achieve a comprehensive, lasting, and mutually acceptable settlement.

The next meeting, scheduled for January 2027, will be hosted by the Republican Turkish Party (TRC). Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite multiple rounds of UN-led peace talks, a resolution has remained elusive, often attributed to Turkish resistance. The most recent negotiations in July 2017 ended inconclusively.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced plans to convene another meeting in a broader format, pending adequate preparation, with consensus from both sides and the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres' Personal Envoy on Cyprus, and Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus, are actively engaged in this ongoing process.