UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discusses Cyprus issue in Nicosia

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Nicosia on July 29, 2026, to engage in discussions regarding the resolution of the Cyprus issue. During his visit, Guterres held separate meetings with Republic of Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, followed by a dinner held in the UN-controlled buffer zone.

The Secretary-General emphasized that the UN is prepared to facilitate the process but will not impose a solution, stating that the outcome depends primarily on the Cypriot parties themselves, with the guarantor powers playing a significant role. Guterres announced that there is a consensus among both sides and the three guarantor powers to convene a new expanded 5+1 conference. Media reports note that the Turkish Cypriot side, led by Erhurman, is advocating for a new, realistic methodology, while emphasizing the importance of thorough preparation and Confidence Building Measures as requested by the UN.

While the atmosphere is described as cautiously positive, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press emphasize the need for adequate preparation to ensure the next meeting yields concrete results. No specific dates for the 5+1 conference have been finalized, but the UN remains focused on keeping the negotiation process active.