UN Secretary-General concludes Cyprus visit without breakthrough on crossing points

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres concluded a two-day visit to Cyprus on July 29, 2026, holding separate meetings with Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman. While Guterres secured consent from both sides and guarantor powers to eventually convene an expanded 5+1 conference, no specific date was set. The visit highlighted a persistent deadlock regarding the opening of new crossing points, specifically the Mia Milia and Athienou locations. Reports indicate that President Christodoulides accepted a compromise proposal presented by the UN chief, while Tufan Erhürman rejected it.

Throughout the discussions, Guterres emphasized the need for adequate preparation regarding confidence-building measures, methodology, and substantive issues before any formal conference can take place. Turkish Cypriot leader Erhürman described the visit as a positive development, viewing the engagement as a way to affirm the status of the two leaders. Conversely, the Greek Cypriot government stressed that confidence-building measures are not a formal prerequisite for the conference. The Turkish foreign ministry reaffirmed its position, calling for an end to the alleged intransigence of the Greek Cypriot side, while the Cyprus government maintains that progress hinges on political shifts in Ankara.