UN Secretary-General expresses support for bicommunal technical committees in Cyprus

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reaffirmed his support for the work of bicommunal technical committees during a recent visit to Cyprus. The meeting involved the heads of these committees, the head of UNFICYP and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Colin Stewart, and the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Maria Angela Holguin.

Michalis Loizidis, the Greek Cypriot head of the Technical Committee on Environment, stated that UN officials emphasized the necessity of intercommunal cooperation as a foundation for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem. Guterres highlighted confidence-building measures as a crucial indicator of the leaders' intent to cooperate and coexist. Loizidis noted the positive atmosphere currently present among members from both communities, stressing that the committees' work remains essential for future progress in negotiations.

The focus remains on utilizing these committees to demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace. While no specific new dates for further actions were announced, the UN reiterated that such cooperative efforts are a prerequisite for broader progress toward a political settlement on the island.