UN to convene five-party meeting on Cyprus settlement

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has secured the consent of all involved parties to convene a five-party meeting aimed at reviving the negotiation process for the Cyprus issue. This follows a breakthrough phone call on Sunday night between Guterres and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, which provided the necessary political framework for the move. The Secretary-General intends to hold this meeting before his term expires, with the primary objective being the official announcement of the resumption of substantive negotiations.

Preparations for the 5+1 meeting are currently underway, as significant prior coordination is required to ensure conditions for progress are met. In addition to the broader framework, reports indicate that Guterres recently proposed a compromise regarding the opening of crossing points in Mia Milia and Athienou, involving a reduced number of control points. However, this proposal reportedly received a negative response from the Turkish Cypriot side, highlighting ongoing difficulties in local decision-making regarding sensitive military or territorial issues. The UN process now moves toward establishing a clear roadmap for the proposed five-party summit.