UN Secretary-General announces plans for a 5+1 meeting on the Cyprus issue

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced plans to convene a new 5+1 meeting regarding the Cyprus issue, following an intensive series of discussions with local leaders and guarantor powers. The decision follows a critical phone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who provided the necessary consent to proceed. The meeting aims to restart substantive negotiations, though Guterres emphasized that it will only occur after thorough preparation concerning confidence-building measures, methodology, and core issues to avoid past failures.

During his visit to Cyprus, Guterres also proposed a compromise to open crossing points at Mia Milia and Athienou with simplified security checks. However, reports indicate this proposal met with resistance from the Turkish Cypriot side, reflecting broader underlying disagreements. While Nicosia views the prospect of a new meeting as a return to the established negotiating framework, Ankara maintains its stance on sovereign equality, and Tufan Erhurman has expressed a focus on a gradual roadmap. No specific date or venue has been set for the conference, as the UN currently prioritizes preparatory groundwork rather than setting immediate, rigid timelines.