Published on: 2026-07-29
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
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July 29, 2026 Peace and Security
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, following his first visit to Cyprus, announced his intention to convene a new meeting on the settlement on the island with the participation of leaders of both Cypriot communities, as well as representatives of the guarantor countries and the UN.
Speaking to journalists in Nicosia, the UN chief reminded that in recent years negotiations have taken place in Geneva, Crans-Montana, Berlin, and New York.
“In this context, it was my duty to come to Cyprus to express full solidarity with the people of Cyprus in their efforts to find a solution,” said the Secretary-General.
It is necessary to restore trust
According to Guterres, the time has now come to make every effort to restore trust between the parties. He emphasized the importance of developing and implementing confidence-building measures that can improve the everyday lives of the island’s population and called on the two leaders to intensify work in this direction.
The Secretary-General noted that his Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguin continues to maintain contacts with the parties, relying both on previous UN efforts and on interactions with the people of Cyprus themselves.
During the visit, the Secretary-General also met with representatives of various communities on the island.
“Their message was clear. They want progress. They want to see that their leaders are ready to make compromises and take the final step towards resolving the Cyprus issue. They want a future in which this island is defined not by division, but by cooperation, opportunities, and peace,” he said.
According to Guterres, this was precisely the spirit that prevailed during his “frank and constructive” meetings with the two leaders – both separately and jointly. The UN chief reported that the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Tufan Erhürman, and the leader of the Greek Cypriots, Nikos Christodoulides, confirmed their readiness to continue working with his Personal Envoy.
A new meeting in the 5+1 format
Following the discussions held, the Secretary-General decided to convene a new meeting in the 5+1 format. This involves the participation of representatives of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and the three guarantor countries (Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom), as well as the UN. However, Guterres emphasized that these negotiations will take place only after thorough preparation.
“I do not want to hold new meetings in the 5+1 format without results. I want the meeting to be successful and to pave the way for reaching a settlement,” he said, responding to journalists’ questions.
According to the Secretary-General, the timing of the meeting has not yet been determined.
The role of the UN and the international community
The Secretary-General emphasized the need to respect the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) both in the buffer zone and in the area of the UN-designated ceasefire lines. He noted that for more than six decades, the peacekeeping mission has helped maintain calm and stability, and its effectiveness depends on the cooperation of all parties.
The Secretary-General also highly praised the work of the Committee on Missing Persons, which assists the families of missing people from both sides, as well as the activities of the technical committees dealing with practical solutions to the problems faced by representatives of the two communities.
He noted that the international community should also continue to support the settlement process.
“The United Nations cannot impose peace. But let me make it absolutely clear: the United Nations remains fully committed to supporting the people of Cyprus at this critical moment for the island and the entire region,” emphasized the Secretary-General.
Regional conflicts
In response to a question about the significance of a possible settlement for the region, Guterres noted that the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean are undergoing a period of significant geopolitical changes, accompanied by ongoing conflicts and the risk of their further escalation.
“I am convinced that the settlement in Cyprus is crucial not only for protecting the interests and peace of the people of Cyprus, but also as a factor of stability in a region that is becoming dangerously unstable,” said the Secretary-General.
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