UN Secretary-General rules out Cyprus talks at UN General Assembly

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has ruled out the possibility of holding a trilateral (3+1) or pentapartite (5+1) meeting regarding the Cyprus issue on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Guterres emphasized that significant work remains to be done and that conditions are not yet ripe for a successful outcome, stating that the UN cannot repeat past mistakes. The decision follows a period of stagnation in the peace process, despite preparatory meetings held on September 14 between Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou and Turkish Cypriot representative Mehmet Dana.

Prior to his departure for New York, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman claimed readiness to progress on seven topics requested by the UN, including mine clearance and migration, though he faced criticism from local sources regarding the sincerity of these efforts. Meanwhile, EU official Raffaele Fitto has been involved in diplomatic outreach, though reports clarify that his current schedule involves official visits to Italy and Portugal rather than immediate mediation meetings in Athens or Ankara. President Nikos Christodoulides is set to hold meetings with Guterres in New York next week, while the focus of potential progress has now shifted toward late 2026. The diplomatic community continues to monitor the situation as the UN remains determined to resume formal negotiations only when real prospects for success are guaranteed.