President Christodoulides and Tufan Erhurman meet for Cyprus talks

On August 26, 2026, President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman held a meeting at the United Nations Good Offices Mission in the Nicosia buffer zone. This was their first encounter since the late July visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Cyprus. The discussions focused on confidence-building measures, methodology, and the core aspects of the Cyprus problem, aiming to prepare the ground for a potential informal five-party conference.

During the meeting, the two leaders addressed long-standing issues, including the proposal to open the Athienou-Pyroi and Mia Milia crossings. While the Greek Cypriot side reaffirmed its willingness to open these crossings, the process has faced delays and remains a point of contention. The UN is expected to complete its record of past convergences by early September, which will serve as a basis for further deliberations.

Looking ahead, President Christodoulides expressed hope that this meeting would mark the start of more intensive consultations. Both leaders are scheduled to travel to New York during the UN General Assembly in September to provide separate briefings to the Secretary-General. Maria Angela Holguin, the personal envoy of the UN chief, is also expected to visit Cyprus in early September to continue the diplomatic efforts, although expectations for immediate, concrete breakthroughs remain low.