President Christodoulides and Tufan Erhurman initiate weekly meetings on Cyprus issue

On August 26, 2026, President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman held a three-hour meeting at the UN Good Offices mission headquarters in the Nicosia buffer zone. The leaders assessed progress according to the roadmap established during UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' visit to the island last month. To maintain momentum, they agreed to formalize the dialogue by meeting on a weekly basis, or more frequently if necessary, to address confidence-building measures, negotiation methodology, and the core of the Cyprus problem.

While the Greek Cypriot side viewed the meeting as constructive and a positive step toward preparing for high-level engagement in New York, Tufan Erhurman expressed concerns regarding recent negative developments on the island. In a post-meeting statement, he claimed these actions undermine confidence-building measures, which UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin has identified as a prerequisite for a 5+1 summit. Despite differing perspectives on the current climate, both leaders remain committed to the ongoing dialogue process.

Looking ahead, the diplomatic calendar includes an upcoming visit by European Council President Antonio Costa on September 4 and further engagement with Maria Angela Holguin next week. The intensive weekly meetings aim to secure sufficient progress to justify a broader negotiation format under UN auspices.