Nicosia: The issue of the Greek Cypriots kidnapped by the regime in the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus was raised by President Nikos Christodoulides during a meeting with Colin Stewart, the UNSG’s Special Representative and head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The Director of the Presidency’s Press Office, Victoras Papadopoulos, informed reporters that the president discussed the ongoing trial and the suffering endured by the five Greek Cypriots.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Papadopoulos stated that President Christodoulides expressed concerns over the illegal arrest and trial of the five Greek Cypriot citizens, who are also EU citizens. The president described the situation as unacceptable and highlighted the steps taken to address it with international bodies, including the UN Secretary-General, EU institutions, EU member states, and other international organizations.
The five Greek Cypriots, who are all over the age of 60, were illegally arrested on July 19 near Turkish-occupied Trikomo. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of the northern third, leading to the establishment of an illegal breakaway entity in 1983. This entity’s declaration of independence was condemned by the UN Security Council and deemed legally void by the international community.
Repeated UN-led peace talks have failed to resolve the division, with the latest negotiations in 2017 ending without agreement. Informal meetings have continued, with the most recent discussions held in New York in July 2025, following a similar meeting in Geneva earlier in the year. UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres expressed a commitment to continued dialogue and announced plans to meet with Cyprus leaders during the General Assembly high-level week in September.