A UN diplomatic source in Brussels has told CNA that concrete results will be needed from the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Cyprus on July 27-29, and from the meeting of the tripartite meeting, before the process can move forward to five-party conference talks.
At the same time, the source denied recent press reports about the existence of a plan, stressing the UN’s focus remains on preparing for Guterres’ visit to the island at the end of July and his meeting with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides.
The source noted that the contacts of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on the Cyprus issue, Maria Angela Holguín, both in Brussels and in Ankara tomorrow, Friday, fall within this same framework.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
After informal meetings in 2025, followed by a hiatus of several months, deliberations are underway for a new meeting in broader format to be held, as the term of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nears its end. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties.