Nicosia: The United Nations Secretary-General has highlighted a new moment of opportunity for progress on the longstanding Cyprus issue, as detailed in his report on the Good Offices mission in Cyprus. Ant³nio Guterres noted that informal meetings and contacts between the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader have demonstrated a renewed potential to advance peace negotiations.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Guterres expressed optimism about the commitment shown by the leaders of both communities and the guarantor powers-Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom-to sustain their engagement, despite a historically significant hiatus in active negotiations. The report emphasizes the improved bilateral relations between Greece and Turkey during this period, which are crucial for reviving dialogue on the Cyprus issue.
A notable development was the joint meeting of the two leaders on December 11, 2025, facilitated by Guterres's Personal Envoy, Mara ngela Holgun Cu©llar. This meeting marked the first discussions on core political issues in over five years, with both leaders agreeing to aim for a solution based on political equality as outlined in Security Council resolutions. Guterres urged both sides to show stronger determination towards unimplemented trust-building initiatives, highlighting the potential benefits of opening new crossing points to enhance daily life and foster mutual understanding.
The Secretary-General commended the strengthened role of the Technical Committees, tasked with implementing several trust-building initiatives. He underscored the importance of these committees in supporting broader peacebuilding efforts and praised both sides for insulating them from political influences. Specific attention was given to the Technical Committee on youth, which promises to enhance youth participation in the peace process.
Concerns were raised regarding unilateral actions in and around the buffer zone, which threaten the military status quo and the integrity of the buffer zone. Guterres reiterated the UN's unchanged stance on Varosha, as per Security Council resolutions 550 and 789. Concluding his observations, he called for continued dialogue and trust-building efforts to strengthen the emerging momentum and establish a genuine climate of trust.
The report also details an uptick in dialogue and UN engagement from June to December 2025, including a key informal meeting in New York with participation from leaders of both communities and foreign ministers from Greece, Turkey, and the UK. The election of Tufan Erhrman as the new Turkish Cypriot leader was noted as a significant event, with his platform focusing on overcoming divisions and resuming talks for a federal solution.
The operational aspects of the Good Offices mission included numerous meetings with various stakeholders, highlighting the active involvement of the Technical Committees in areas such as youth and cultural heritage. However, some committees, like those on education and gender equality, showed limited progress.
The annexes of the report feature written updates from the two leaders. The President of the Republic of Cyprus reaffirmed the goal of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, while the Turkish Cypriot leader proposed a new methodology for negotiations, emphasizing the need for a conducive climate for solutions.