Nicosia: UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo is set to convene with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on February 10. This announcement comes amid ongoing discussions facilitated by the UN to address the long-standing division of Cyprus. The meetings are part of a broader initiative to explore potential pathways towards resolving the Cyprus issue, with an emphasis on opening additional crossing points.
According to Cyprus News Agency, DiCarlo’s meetings are scheduled as part of a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at fostering dialogue between the two sides. Although the official schedule is yet to be released by the United Nations, it is anticipated that DiCarlo will engage with various stakeholders to organize an informal meeting under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. This meeting would provide a platform for discussing the future course of negotiations.
A potential follow-up meeting between the two leaders regarding crossing points is also under consideration, with a date expected to be finalized soon. The leaders previously met under the guidance of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus to deliberate on the matter, but the discussions concluded without reaching a consensus.
This initiative follows an agreement made during an informal dinner hosted by the UN Secretary-General in New York on October 15, 2024. During this meeting, the leaders consented to hold an informal session in a broader format to strategize on the Cyprus issue. They also agreed to conduct a meeting in Cyprus to evaluate the feasibility of opening new crossings.
Furthermore, UNFICYP Spokesperson Aleem Siddique confirmed to Cyprus News Agency that the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus, Colin Stewart, is scheduled to meet with the negotiators from both sides, Menelaos Menelaou and Gunes Onar, on Thursday morning. Stewart will also hold separate discussions with the two leaders on Friday, meeting President Christodoulides at 15.30 and leader Tatar at 16.30.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, a resolution remains elusive. The last significant negotiation effort, held in July 2017 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended without an agreement.