Leaders agree on new checkpoints and UN talks to restart Cyprus negotiations

On November 9, 2026, the leader of the Greek Cypriot community Nikos Christodoulides and the Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman met in Nicosia alongside the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy, Maria Angela Holguin. The three-and-a-half-hour meeting resulted in a commitment to open two new border crossing points at Louroujina and Kampos. Additionally, the parties agreed to resume the 'Imagine' peace education program and cooperate on cultural, environmental, and emergency response initiatives.

Beyond these confidence-building measures, the leaders agreed to hold a future trilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the methodology and core substance of the Cyprus issue. While the Republic of Cyprus government hailed this as a vital step toward restarting substantive negotiations from where they stalled in 2017, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the progress as limited, blaming the Greek Cypriot side for continued diplomatic friction.

Currently, technical teams are drafting schedules for the opening of the new checkpoints, and coordination is underway with the UN office to determine the timing and venue for the high-level meeting with Guterres. Officials have emphasized that while these measures help build trust, the ultimate goal remains a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.