New York: On Tuesday, Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar met in New York for informal discussions hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The meeting, aimed at breaking the deadlock in stalled reunification talks, ended with an agreement to meet again soon to discuss “the way forward.”
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, which followed a brief Greek-inspired coup and years of sporadic violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Despite numerous efforts, reunification talks collapsed in mid-2017 and have remained at an impasse ever since.
During the dinner, Guterres encouraged both leaders to work on bridging their differences and rebuilding trust to create momentum for a settlement, according to U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. “The leaders agreed to have an informal meeting in a broader format in the near future, under the auspices of the Secretary-General, to discuss the way forward,” Dujarric said in a statement.
Also Read | Oil Prices Stabilize Amid Middle East Conflict Uncertainty
They also agreed to meet in Cyprus to explore the possibility of opening new crossing points between the two communities.
Also Read | Xi Jinping Reiterates China’s Willingness to Be a Partner and Friend with the US
Last month, Christodoulides addressed the U.N. General Assembly, expressing his willingness to immediately resume reunification talks. Meanwhile, the Turkish Cypriot side, backed only by Turkey, continues to push for a two-state solution that recognizes its sovereignty, while the Greek Cypriots advocate for reunification under a federal framework.
