Diplomatic efforts for the Cyprus issue continue ahead of November tripartite meeting

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on October 29, 2026, to discuss the Cyprus problem. Gerapetritis stressed the need to maintain momentum and move toward official substantive discussions, insisting that UN Security Council resolutions remain binding. He also emphasized that maritime zones must be governed by international law and asserted that Greece would not tolerate illegal activities in its maritime territories.

Meanwhile, UN Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguin has returned to Cyprus for a new round of contacts before her mandate concludes at the end of the year. Following her meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides on October 30, she expressed optimism regarding potential progress. Holguin is scheduled to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on November 2, leading up to a critical tripartite meeting between the two leaders and the UN envoy on November 9, 2026.

Controversy has emerged regarding Holguin’s recent remarks, as some sources report she assigned equal responsibility to both sides for the current stalemate, drawing criticism from the Nicosia government. President Christodoulides reaffirmed his commitment to seeking opportunities for substantive negotiations while noting the inherent challenges.