New york: Negotiations at the UN Security Council on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) have entered their final phase. The Security Council is scheduled to meet on this issue at noon New York time on Thursday, January 29.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the support of two permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United Kingdom and France - for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue remains unwavering. Both countries are reported to fully support ongoing United Nations diplomatic efforts, the continuation of the implementation of Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), as well as efforts by the UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres, his Personal Envoy Mara ngela Holgun, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Khassim Diagne, to build momentum towards achieving a solution in Cyprus.
Russia and China also welcome UN diplomatic efforts and support a solution as outlined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Support for the renewal of UNFICYP's mandate, as well as for the UN Mission's work in Cyprus, is also expressed by the United States, along with new non-permanent members of the Security Council such as Latvia and Bahrain, who appear to be encouraging both sides to continue engaging constructively, according to information.
According to UN sources, the United Kingdom supports the intensification of dialogue between the two sides, including broader-format meetings as those held in Geneva and New York, as well as meetings between the two leaders.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended inconclusively.
In 2025, the Secretary-General hosted two informal meetings on Cyprus, in March in Geneva and in July in New York, while a tripartite meeting with the Cyprus leaders was also held in late September, at the end of the UN General Assembly High Level Week. Mara Angela Holgun, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties, while former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, designated by the Commission as Special Envoy for Cyprus, is also expected to contribute to the settlement process, in cooperation with Holgun.