National Council discusses Cyprus issue and UN-led initiative

On June 22, 2026, the newly composed National Council of Cyprus met to receive an update from President Nikos Christodoulides on recent diplomatic efforts regarding the Cyprus issue. President Christodoulides briefed the Council on his meetings with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, contacts with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín, and discussions with EU leadership. Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis noted that all political parties recognized a renewed momentum stemming from the initiative personally undertaken by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Officials aim to convene an informal enlarged meeting of the island's two sides and the three guarantor powers—Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom—by late July or early August. The primary objective of this process is to resume negotiations from where they were previously interrupted, while safeguarding the negotiating acquis. President Christodoulides dismissed concerns that the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would hinder these efforts. A follow-up meeting of the National Council is expected to occur after the next visit of the UN Personal Envoy to the island. All parties emphasized the necessity of national unity to capitalize on this critical window before the end of Guterres' term in December.