UN Secretary-General rules out Cyprus talks on the sidelines of General Assembly

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has ruled out holding a 3+1 or 5+1 meeting regarding the Cyprus problem during the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. Guterres stated that insufficient progress has been made since his July visit to the island, emphasizing that significantly more work is required and that the UN must avoid repeating past mistakes. This decision halts expectations for immediate high-level multilateral discussions in late September.

Ahead of their departure for New York, President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman held their final preparatory meeting on September 17 at the UN offices in Nicosia. President Christodoulides presented 19 points covering substance, methodology, and confidence-building measures (CBMs). While Erhurman claimed his side is prepared to progress on seven UN-identified issues—including crossing points, demining, and irregular migration—disagreements persist regarding the scope and political implications of these measures. Diplomatic sources indicate that the UN remains committed to pursuing a settlement, with further efforts expected to transition toward December.

Meanwhile, European Commission official Raffaele Fitto has no scheduled visits to Athens or Ankara. His agenda focuses on regional cooperation in Portugal and Italy, though he maintains communication with relevant stakeholders regarding the Cyprus issue.