UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrives in Cyprus for high-level talks

UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Cyprus on July 28, 2026, for a two-day visit aimed at facilitating a comprehensive and lasting settlement to the long-standing Cyprus issue. The visit includes separate meetings with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, a private dinner with both leaders, and a joint meeting scheduled for Wednesday at Nicosia Airport. Guterres, the first UN Secretary-General to visit the island since 2010, emphasized that regional instability and geopolitical shifts make the present moment critical for reaching a resolution to prevent further negative developments for the island.

Preparatory efforts were led by the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín, who held meetings with both leaders and foreign officials, including a recent visit to Ankara. While the government of Cyprus maintains a realistic stance regarding the challenges posed by Turkey’s position, officials view this visit as a potential springboard for an expanded conference on the island's future. The schedule also includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the UN Peacekeepers’ Memorial, a visit to the Committee on Missing Persons laboratory, and consultations with negotiators and civil society representatives to consolidate progress.