Nicosia: US Ambassador to Cyprus, Julie Davis, engaged in discussions with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on Friday, exploring ways to achieve concrete progress towards ending the division of Cyprus, aligning with relevant Security Council resolutions.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Davis shared her reflections on the discussions through a post on X, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with Turkish Cypriot leader Erhurman in anticipation of the upcoming UN discussions. The focus was on working together to make significant strides towards resolving the long-standing division of Cyprus in line with Security Council resolutions.
The division of Cyprus traces back to 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island. Despite multiple rounds of UN-led peace talks, a resolution remains elusive, largely due to Turkish intransigence. The last significant negotiations took place in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana but ended without a conclusive agreement.
In 2025, the Secretary-General hosted two informal gatherings on Cyprus, occurring in March in Geneva and July in New York, with a tripartite meeting involving Cyprus leaders held in late September during the UN General Assembly High Level Week. An informal meeting in a broader format is anticipated this year.
Mara Angela Holgun, serving as the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is actively engaging with the involved parties. Additionally, former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, appointed by the Commission as Special Envoy for Cyprus, is expected to assist in the settlement process alongside Holgun.