UN Secretary-General Guterres announces move toward new 5+1 Cyprus talks

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concluded his visit to Cyprus on July 29, 2026, following a tripartite meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. The meeting, held in the UN-protected area of Nicosia airport, aimed to address the long-standing stalemate regarding the island's reunification. Guterres announced his intention to convene a new informal '5+1' format conference, which would include the island’s three guarantor powers—Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom—to resume negotiations from where they left off in Crans-Montana.

However, Guterres emphasized that the conference will only be scheduled once there is 'adequate preparation' regarding methodology, substance, and confidence-building measures. He did not set a specific deadline, noting the need for consensus and progress before such a gathering to avoid another unproductive result. President Christodoulides welcomed the initiative, highlighting the preservation of previous negotiating achievements and the active involvement of the EU, represented by envoy Raffaele Fitto, who is scheduled to meet with the leadership on the island. Both sides have been tasked with intensifying cooperation with the UN envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, to prepare the ground for future progress.