Nicosia: A meeting between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, is underway since 11:00 a.m. (local time) at Ledra Palace, within the UN-controlled area in Nicosia.
According to Cyprus News Agency, this is the second meeting between the leaders following an informal gathering in a broader format that took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 17-18, 2025. Ersin Tatar was the first to arrive, followed shortly by President Christodoulides, who was accompanied by the Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou. Both were received by Colin Stewart, the Special Representative in Cyprus of the Secretary-General.
Before delving into their discussions, Christodoulides and Tatar had a brief meeting with the newly appointed Technical Committee for Youth. The focus of today’s meeting builds on a previous tªte- -tªte on April 2, where the leaders agreed to set up a bi-communal Technical Committee on Youth and initiate practical confidence-building measures. These measures include demining certain areas, joint environmental and climate change projects, and the restoration of cemeteries. Discussions are also continuing on enhancing the operation of crossing points and the potential use of solar energy within the buffer zone.
The meeting occurs as the return of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, Mara Angela Holguin Cuellar, is anticipated later in May. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 due to Turkey’s invasion and occupation of the northern third. Previous UN-led peace talks have not succeeded, with the last round in July 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ending without resolution.
The UN Secretary-General has announced an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format to be held at the end of July, following the Geneva meeting in March.