UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visits Cyprus for peace process talks

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Cyprus on July 27, 2026, marking his first visit to the island in ten years. His mission aims to revive the stalled peace process and explore the possibility of resuming formal negotiations to resolve the long-standing division. Upon his arrival, Guterres emphasized that the United Nations cannot impose peace, stating that the responsibility for building a sustainable settlement lies exclusively with the Cypriot leaders and their communities.

Following his arrival, Guterres began a series of high-stakes meetings. He is scheduled to meet separately with President Nikos Christodoulides at 10:00 and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman at 11:45 on July 28. These consultations will be followed by a private dinner at the residence of the UN Special Representative, Hasim Djan, located at the Nicosia airport. The two-day diplomatic effort includes a joint meeting with both leaders and a closing press conference scheduled for the following morning.

Preparations for this visit were led by the Secretary-General's personal envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, who held separate discussions with both leaders and officials in Ankara earlier in the week. While the government of Cyprus expressed a cautious outlook due to continued Turkish intransigence, all parties involved have indicated a willingness to engage in good faith to assess the prospects for a comprehensive solution.