Diplomatic activity intensifies over Cyprus problem at UN General Assembly

High-level diplomatic efforts regarding the Cyprus problem took place this week on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss a framework for resuming negotiations from where they left off in 2017. Christodoulides presented 19 new proposals covering the substance of the issue, methodology, and confidence-building measures, which were reportedly received positively by Guterres. The Cypriot leader further emphasized the importance of European Union engagement in the peace process.

Contrasting this, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his demand for the international recognition of the 'sovereign equality' of the Turkish Cypriot people, urging the international community to establish formal relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This stance was strongly condemned by Christodoulides, who accused Erdogan of hypocrisy. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot official Tufan Erhurman held meetings with UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin, with a scheduled meeting with Guterres on September 26. While Guterres remains interested in hosting an enlarged meeting on the Cyprus issue, progress remains hindered by the lack of consensus on the core requirements for a settlement, specifically the bizonal, bicommunal federation model supported by the UN.