UN chief to meet Northern Cyprus leader, discuss peace process

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to meet with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Tufan Erhurman in New York on Wednesday. A UN spokesperson stated the meeting presents an opportunity for Guterres to engage with the newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader and discuss pathways to resolve the long-standing Cyprus issue.

Focus on Trust-Building and Dialogue

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed the agenda, noting it would be the Secretary-General's first meeting with Erhurman, who won the TRNC presidential election last October. Dujarric added that Guterres would also speak with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides in due course. The UN's Cyprus envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, has been working with both sides on confidence-building measures, particularly the opening of new crossing points across the island's buffer zone.

Historical Context of the Cyprus Dispute

The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at unification with Greece and a subsequent peace operation by Türkiye as a guarantor power. The TRNC was established in 1983. Decades of UN-led negotiations, including a failed 2017 initiative, have not yielded a permanent settlement. The Greek Cypriot administration joined the European Union in 2004, the same year it rejected a UN reunification plan.

Current Diplomatic Landscape

The upcoming meeting in New York underscores the UN's continued, though challenged, role in mediating the dispute. It occurs within a framework where Turkish Cypriots seek recognition and equality, while the Greek Cypriot side represents the island internationally. The discussion is expected to address immediate practical measures to build trust, even as fundamental political differences over sovereignty and power-sharing remain unresolved.