Diplomatic efforts intensify ahead of trilateral Cyprus meeting

The United Nations has officially announced a trilateral meeting on the Cyprus problem, scheduled for November 9, 2026, at 11 a.m. The session will take place within the UN-protected area, hosted by the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, and will include President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman.

President Christodoulides reported a recent telephone conversation with Holguin, noting that the process appears to be heading toward positive developments. Reports indicate that the current diplomatic push focuses on a package of confidence-building measures, including the opening of four new crossing points and demining operations across 70,000 square meters on both sides of the island. While the Greek Cypriot side has reportedly responded positively, negotiations continue regarding the scope of demining. The envoy has given the parties until Friday to provide final answers on these measures.

Concurrently, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to arrive in the occupied areas on November 6 for a working visit. Fidan is scheduled to meet with Tufan Erhurman, 'prime minister' Unal Ustel, and 'foreign minister' Tahsin Ertugruloglu to coordinate the Turkish position. Ankara maintains its stance on the necessity of a 'two-state' solution, which remains a central point of tension in the ongoing diplomatic maneuvers ahead of the November 9 meeting.