UN Secretary-General Guterres visits Cyprus to advance peace process

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Cyprus late on July 27 for a three-day visit, marking the first visit by a sitting UN chief to the island in 16 years. Accompanied by his personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin and special representative Kasiem Diagne, Guterres aims to assess the current political landscape and explore opportunities to restart formal negotiations for a comprehensive and sustainable settlement. Upon his arrival, Guterres emphasized that while the UN can provide support, peace cannot be imposed and must be built by the Cypriots themselves.

On July 28, Guterres held a high-level meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides, followed by a separate meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman. The visit is considered a critical moment for reviving diplomatic efforts, which have remained stalled since 2017. Guterres is scheduled to hold further consultations with negotiators, technical committees, and civil society, as well as a joint dinner with the leaders at the Nicosia airport. The visit will conclude on July 29 with a press conference where the Secretary-General is expected to outline his future steps for the peace process, potentially including plans for a new informal conference if conditions allow.