Geneva: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday welcomed what he described as “meaningful progress” in discussions on the future of Cyprus, marking a breakthrough in negotiations that had been stalled for years. Both Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed on a series of initiatives, including the opening of new crossing points.
“Discussions were held in a constructive atmosphere, with both sides showing clear commitment to making progress and continuing dialogue,” Guterres told reporters at the conclusion of a two-day meeting in Geneva.
The Mediterranean island has remained divided since 1974, when Turkey launched a military intervention following a short-lived coup backed by Greece. The division has been a longstanding source of tension between NATO allies Greece and Turkey, who remain staunchly protective of their respective communities on the island.
As part of newly agreed confidence-building measures, both sides consented to opening four additional crossing points, implementing demining operations, establishing a youth affairs committee, and launching joint environmental and solar energy projects.
“Today, there was meaningful progress,” Guterres said, emphasizing a “new atmosphere” in the negotiations, which have been at an impasse since 2017. He also confirmed that both sides agreed to reconvene at the end of July and to appoint a new UN special envoy to facilitate further discussions.
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar expressed optimism about the outcome. “We are satisfied with the positive discussions held with our Greek Cypriot counterparts and representatives from Greece, Turkey, and Britain,” he said.
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“We are faced with two options: either we continue the way we are, with all the repercussions, or we build the future of the island together,” Tatar added.
Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides also acknowledged the significance of the development. “It’s a first, positive step towards restarting talks. That’s the goal. We aren’t there yet, but it’s an important first step,” he said.
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Despite the progress, significant differences remain over the structure of a potential settlement. The Greek Cypriot side insists on a federal system, in line with long-standing UN resolutions, while Turkish Cypriots advocate for a two-state solution, arguing that decades of negotiations have demonstrated that a federal model is unworkable.
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis stressed the importance of ongoing dialogue. “The only solution is the reunification of the island,” he stated.
