Nicosia: UN Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary Di Carlo is scheduled to hold significant meetings in Nicosia on Monday, 10 February, as reported by CNA. Her visit includes discussions with key leaders on the island and forms part of ongoing efforts to address the longstanding Cyprus issue.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Di Carlo will meet with President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar during her stay. She is expected to depart from the island on Tuesday, 11 February. An official announcement regarding her engagements in Cyprus is anticipated from the United Nations Headquarters later this week.
The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and subsequent occupation of its northern third. Numerous UN-led peace negotiations have struggled to produce a lasting resolution. The most recent round of discussions, held in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended without agreement.
On 15 October 2024, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hosted an informal dinner in New York with Cyprus President Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tatar. Guterres urged both leaders to explore ways to reconcile their differences and rebuild trust, which could pave the way for a potential settlement. During this meeting, Christodoulides and Tatar agreed to a future informal meeting in a broader format under Guterres’ auspices to deliberate on the way forward.
In a recent meeting in New York with Guterres, Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos reiterated the government’s commitment to resuming meaningful negotiations on the Cyprus issue. Kombos emphasized the need for clear messaging to the UN Secretary-General and highlighted the importance of preparing adequately for future talks.
UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cyprus, Colin Stewart, noted last week that there is a continuing effort to open new crossing points and expressed optimism about the willingness of both sides to find a solution. This followed a meeting between Christodoulides and Tatar at Stewart’s residence on 20 January, where Christodoulides presented an eight-point proposal on crossing points and other ideas discussed with Guterres in New York.