Diplomatic preparations ahead of UN General Assembly for Cyprus issue

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman are scheduled to hold their final pre-UN General Assembly meeting on Thursday, September 17, at 11:00 a.m. This meeting follows a preparatory session held on Monday, September 14, between Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou and the Turkish Cypriot leader’s special representative, Mehmet Dana. The two negotiators discussed substantive issues, methodology, and potential confidence-building measures to structure future dialogue.

These high-level efforts take place as the UN prepares for the 81st General Assembly’s High-level Week in New York, running from September 18 to 28. President Christodoulides has emphasized that there is no "plan B" for the reunification of Cyprus, although prospects for resuming formal negotiations remain uncertain. Turkish Cypriot leadership has expressed concerns regarding external initiatives they claim undermine trust between the two sides.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is planning meetings with involved parties during the assembly to assess the path forward. Guterres’s personal envoy, Maria Angela Holguín, who recently postponed travel due to health reasons, is expected to attend the New York events. Observers note that while active consultations are underway, the Turkish side has shown limited interest in resuming talks, suggesting a difficult diplomatic landscape for the upcoming summit.