Paphos: UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres has a plan to break the deadlock and reach a solution to the Cyprus issue, said Victor Papadopoulos, Director of the Press Office of the President of the Republic, on Sunday, noting at the same time that the coming weeks will be decisive and that now is the time for unity among both people and political leadership.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Papadopoulos, during a memorial address at the annual service for the heroes of Choulou in Paphos district, recalled that President Nikos Christodoulides launched an international campaign immediately after his election to resume talks aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem. He emphasized that the UN Secretary-General should spearhead a new initiative to break the prolonged deadlock and achieve the resolution of the Cyprus issue, grounded on relevant United Nations resolutions, international law, and the principles and values of the European Union.
The Director of the President's Press Office further detailed the ongoing efforts to involve the European Union in the process, creating incentives for Turkey to agree to resume talks and ensuring that any solution aligns with the EU's acquis communautaire. Papadopoulos highlighted the tireless efforts and political will invested by the President of the Republic, despite challenges posed by Turkish demands for a resolution outside the agreed framework.
Papadopoulos noted that a new, dynamic effort is underway, led by the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, to convene an expanded conference aimed at resuming talks on a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. He assured that President Christodoulides is committed to supporting Ant³nio Guterres in his endeavor.
He stressed the critical nature of the coming weeks for the national cause, highlighting the consultations at various levels within the United Nations and the European Union, which are in full swing and fully supporting the Secretary-General's efforts. Papadopoulos called for unity among the people and political leadership to achieve the resumption of talks and the liberation and reunification of Cyprus based on UN decisions and EU principles.
Papadopoulos concluded by outlining the desired solution's attributes, which include smooth domestic and international functioning, sustainability, and the removal of occupying forces and outdated guarantee systems. Since 1974, Cyprus has remained divided following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third. Previous UN-led peace talks, including those in 2017 at Crans-Montana, have not succeeded. Recent informal meetings hosted by the Secretary-General in 2025 aimed to further the dialogue, with Mara Angela Holgun, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, engaging with the parties involved.