Nicosia: UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres is striving to either reach a settlement on the Cyprus issue during his tenure or set the stage for his successor to achieve the final steps. Informed sources shared insights with CNA, reflecting the messages from Guterres' recent visit to Cyprus.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Guterres emphasizes the importance of maintaining momentum in ongoing discussions to ensure significant progress is made before the transition to a new UN Secretary-General. Guterres' involvement dates back to 2017 when he documented the essence of the negotiations in a six-point framework, which positions him well to advance the process. The sources suggest that any progress made could discourage future abandonment of the negotiation process.
The possibility of convening another broader meeting on the Cyprus issue remains significant. Such a meeting would require a positive outlook within the established UN framework, highlighting the importance of continued discussions. The sources indicate that resuming formal negotiations would imply substantial agreement on key aspects of the Cyprus issue.
The Turkish side's willingness to continue discussions is noted, alongside the significance of a meeting involving the Republic's President, the Turkish Cypriot leader, and Guterres. The meeting itself is seen as a marker of progress compared to earlier stages of the process.
Diplomatic sources connect the increasing momentum on the Cyprus issue to Cyprus's enhanced regional role and the European Union's stance. No specific dates for an expanded meeting have been set, as upcoming steps depend on Guterres' ongoing engagements in Cyprus to assess conditions for advancing the peace process.
Cyprus has remained divided since Turkey's 1974 invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite UN-led peace talks over the years, efforts have been stalled by Turkish intransigence. The latest negotiations in 2017 at Crans-Montana ended without resolution. Informal meetings resumed in 2025, leading to current deliberations for a broader meeting as Guterres' term nears its end. Mara Angela Holgun, Guterres' Personal Envoy, and Raffaele Fitto, the European Commission's Special Representative, are actively engaging in the negotiations.