New york: Greek Foreign Minister, George Gerapetritis, announced that a new meeting in a broader format concerning the Cyprus issue will be arranged once conditions are deemed favorable. This statement followed a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the discussion between Gerapetritis and Guterres, which lasted approximately one hour, primarily focused on the Cyprus issue, while also addressing topics such as Syria, the Palestinian question, and Libya. Gerapetritis emphasized that the Cyprus issue was the main subject, highlighting the efforts of UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Mara Angela Holgun, in Cyprus and the significance of confidence-building measures. He noted that a broader meeting would occur once there is tangible progress on these issues.
Gerapetritis asserted that the Cyprus issue remains a priority on the Secretary-General's agenda, describing it as a matter affecting international legal order and stressing the importance of a solution for both Cyprus and international security. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third. Numerous UN-led peace talks have yet to succeed, primarily due to Turkish intransigence, with the most recent negotiations in July 2017 at Crans-Montana ending without resolution.
In 2025, the Secretary-General hosted two informal meetings on Cyprus, one in March in Geneva and another in July in New York. A tripartite meeting with Cyprus leaders also took place in late September at the conclusion of the UN General Assembly High Level Week. Mara Angela Holgun is tasked with engaging the parties, while former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, designated as Special Envoy for Cyprus by the Commission, is expected to assist in the settlement process in collaboration with Holgun.