Nicosia: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to engage in discussions aimed at advancing the peace process in Cyprus as he prepares to arrive on the island. According to a UN spokesperson, Guterres will focus on efforts to support stability in Cyprus, particularly through the work of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
According to Cyprus News Agency, Guterres is scheduled to land in Cyprus late on Monday night. His arrival will be met by his Personal Envoy, Mara ngela Holgun, and his Special Representative in Cyprus, Khassim Diagne. The Secretary-General's agenda includes talks with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhrman on Tuesday and Wednesday, where they will explore pathways to resolve the ongoing Cyprus issue.
In preparation for his discussions with President Christodoulides, Guterres will convene a meeting with key UN officials, including Holgun, Diagne, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, and UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix. This meeting is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 following Turkey's invasion and occupation of the northern third of the island. Previous rounds of UN-led peace talks have not succeeded, with the last significant negotiations in 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, concluding without agreement. As Guterres' term nears its end, there is renewed momentum for a broader meeting to address the issue, with Holgun taking an active role in engaging the involved parties.
Guterres is expected to return to New York on Wednesday, concluding his visit amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to foster peace in Cyprus.