Nicosia: President Nikos Christodoulides has conveyed to UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres that Cyprus' upcoming EU Presidency and the parliamentary elections scheduled for May 2026 will not impede the country's dedication to resuming and advancing negotiations on the Cyprus issue. This assurance was communicated through a letter sent early last week, as reported by CNA.
According to Cyprus News Agency, in the letter, President Christodoulides expressed his appreciation for Guterres' ongoing efforts to restart the negotiating process concerning the Cyprus issue. He reaffirmed his commitment to international law, the UN Charter, and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, while addressing the ongoing Turkish occupation and attempts to alter the status quo. The letter also referenced two informal meetings held last year under UN auspices, which have fostered new momentum toward resolving the Cyprus issue.
President Christodoulides reiterated his commitment to a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolutions. He highlighted a recent meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, where both parties confirmed their objective of achieving a solution based on political equality. He also expressed readiness to participate in upcoming informal meetings to resume negotiations from the point they were left off at Crans-Montana, stressing the importance of maintaining the progress achieved there.
In his communication, the President outlined a five-point proposal aimed at restarting the negotiation process, which includes reaffirming the agreed solution basis, submitting a document of past convergences, convening the next informal meeting, resuming negotiations, and opening four new crossing points. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of the European Union's involvement in the UN Secretary-General's initiative.
Christodoulides further reiterated key settlement parameters, such as single sovereignty, international personality, one citizenship, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, excluding any union or partition with another country. He assured that neither the EU Presidency nor the parliamentary elections would hinder the commitment to immediate negotiation resumption and progress.
The President, upon returning from a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhrman, confirmed that he had requested a meeting with the UN Secretary-General within March. Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite several UN-led peace talks, a resolution remains elusive.
Earlier in 2025, the Secretary-General hosted informal meetings in Geneva and New York, with another tripartite meeting held in September. An additional informal meeting in a broader format is anticipated later this year. Mara Angela Holgun, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, along with former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, is slated to engage with the parties to further the settlement process.