Cyprus issue leaders meet ahead of UN General Assembly

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman met in Nicosia on September 17 to discuss the Cyprus problem ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York. During the meeting, Christodoulides presented a package of 19 new proposals covering Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), methodology, and the core substance of the dispute. While both sides acknowledged a better atmosphere, no tangible breakthroughs were reported, and the leaders failed to reach a common baseline for resumed negotiations.

Following the meeting, the leaders are scheduled to hold separate discussions in New York with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his personal envoy, Maria Angela Holguin. There are currently no plans for a trilateral or 5+1 meeting, reflecting continued diplomatic impasse. Guterres has emphasized that significant work remains and that past mistakes must not be repeated.

Meanwhile, former DISY president Averof Neophytou has stated he will support President Christodoulides if a strategic agreement is reached, though he plans to reassess his political standing in December based on the progress of these talks. The Greek Cypriot side remains focused on restarting negotiations from the point they were previously suspended, while the Turkish Cypriot side insists on the prior acceptance of rotating presidency as a condition for further progress.