UN Secretary-General Guterres visits Cyprus to discuss peace process resumption

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Cyprus on July 28, 2026, marking the first visit by a UN chief to the island in 16 years. During his visit, Guterres held substantial meetings with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, aiming to assess the potential for resuming stalled negotiations. While the UN Secretary-General reaffirmed his commitment to facilitating a settlement, he emphasized that the ultimate success of the process depends on the Cypriots themselves and the contributions of the guarantor powers.

Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis welcomed Guterres’s political engagement, noting that the goal is to convene an informal expanded conference as a springboard for further talks. In the north, Tufan Erhürman expressed support for the UN efforts, mentioning a move toward new, realistic methodologies. Turkish media, however, maintained that Ankara’s position remains unchanged, favoring a two-state solution. While Guterres discussed the potential for mutually beneficial confidence-building measures, he clarified that he is not carrying a new, ready-made settlement proposal at this time. The visit concluded with Guterres committing to continue supporting both communities in their search for a just and lasting solution, pending further cooperation from all stakeholders.