President Christodoulides and Tufan Erhürman hold new round of Cyprus talks

President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman are meeting today, October 20, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the United Nations Good Offices Mission offices near the former Nicosia airport. The meeting aims to seek progress on the three pillars identified by the UN Secretary-General: substance of negotiations, methodology, and confidence-building measures.

Despite the constructive atmosphere observed at a recent community festival in Pyla, officials report that recent public statements and media interventions, including remarks by UN envoy Maria Angela Holguín, have introduced friction and mutual mistrust. President Christodoulides, while expressing a strong desire for positive outcomes, noted that he remains ready to announce the opening of new crossing points if the Turkish Cypriot side shows corresponding readiness.

Looking ahead, the President announced that dates have been proposed for a trilateral meeting between himself, Erhürman, and envoy Holguín to take place before the end of October. The Greek Cypriot side has already confirmed its availability, and officials are awaiting the final confirmation from the Turkish Cypriot side. Additionally, Christodoulides noted that a separate European Union initiative concerning the Cyprus issue is currently underway, with expectations for progress on both the domestic and international fronts.