AKEL calls for progress in Cyprus negotiations ahead of leaders' meeting

The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus are scheduled to meet on August 26, 2026, marking the first such encounter following the recent visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Nicosia. The political party AKEL has expressed hope that this meeting will serve as a meaningful step toward restarting negotiations to resolve the Cyprus problem, which has remained in a state of stagnation for the past nine years.

AKEL emphasizes that the path forward requires the parties to build upon previously established common ground and complete the "last mile" of the process, as suggested by Guterres. Party spokesperson Giorgos Loukaidis stated that progress should be based on the established framework where talks were previously interrupted in Crans-Montana, ensuring that the achievements of prior negotiations are preserved. However, the party also noted that there are currently no clear indicators that the necessary conditions for a successful resumption of dialogue have been established.

While calling for concrete steps to break the deadlock, AKEL warned against actions or rhetoric that might hinder ongoing efforts. The party hopes that this meeting will foster a new environment, potentially leading to a broader international conference, though it remains cautious about the immediate prospects for a breakthrough.