Turkey maintains deadlock on Cyprus negotiations following UN meeting

Turkey has signaled that no common ground exists to restart negotiations on the Cyprus issue following a tripartite meeting between UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. In a statement released on July 29, 2026, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Oncu Keceli, noted that while they appreciate Guterres’s mediation efforts, the conditions for a settlement remain unmet.

The Turkish government continues to advocate for a two-state solution based on sovereign equality, while blaming the Greek-Cypriot side for an alleged intransigent stance. Ankara suggests that instead of pursuing a comprehensive settlement, the focus should remain on specific areas of cooperation established during the UN-led process that began in 2025 to build mutual trust between the two communities.

This diplomatic stance continues to stall broader international efforts to resolve the long-standing division of the island. Ankara maintains that no progress on a final solution is possible until the Greek-Cypriot side changes its current approach, signaling a continued stalemate in the diplomatic process.