Cyprus leaders meet to discuss resumption of peace talks

President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman met on October 20, 2026, at the UN Good Offices mission office near Nicosia’s former airport. The 105-minute constructive meeting aimed to address the substance, methodology, and confidence-building measures required to break the diplomatic deadlock. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the UN-led process and agreed to hold further discussions next week.

The meeting prepared the ground for the upcoming visit of Maria Angela Holguin, the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General, who is scheduled to arrive in Cyprus on October 29, 2026. Following her arrival, a trilateral meeting involving the two leaders and the envoy is confirmed for November 9, 2026. The parties also reached agreements on environmental initiatives and the exchange of cultural artifacts, while intending to consult with various technical committees and civil society representatives in the interim.

While President Christodoulides noted that the discussion focused heavily on methodology and that some of his 19 proposed suggestions remain pending or rejected, he expressed a clear political will to achieve progress. The ongoing diplomatic efforts are further supported by an emerging European Union initiative, which leadership hopes will complement the UN track in finding a resolution to the Cyprus issue.