UN Secretary-General António Guterres has a plan to break the deadlock and reach a solution to the Cyprus issue, said Victor Papadopoulos, Director of the Press Office of the President of the Republic, on Sunday, noting at the same time that the coming weeks will be decisive and that now is the time for unity among both people and political leadership.
In a memorial address at the annual service for the heroes of Choulou, in Paphos district, Papadopoulos recalled that President Nikos Christodoulides ‘from the very moment of his election, launched an international campaign and an effort to resume talks aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem.’
He added that the UN Secretary-General should take the lead in a new initiative, ‘so as to break the prolonged deadlock and achieve the long-awaited resolution of the Cyprus issue, based on the relevant United Nations resolutions, international law, and the principles and values of the European Union.’
At the same time, the Director of the President’s Press Office continued, ‘a marathon effort has begun to create the conditions for the European Union’s involvement in this process, so that, on the one hand, Turkey would have incentives and benefits to agree to resume talks to settle the Cyprus issue from where they were suspended and to find a solution, and, on the other hand, the European Union would be present in the negotiation process with the aim of ensuring that the solution will be compatible with the acquis communautaire and the principles and values of the Union.’
Today, Papadopoulos noted, ‘following tireless, sincere efforts on our part, backed by genuine political will-despite the difficulties the President of the Republic has faced and continues to face due to Turkish demands for a solution outside the agreed framework- we are in the midst of a new, dynamic effort by the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to convene a new, expanded conference this summer that will lead to the resumption of talks on a comprehensive, functional, and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem.’
The Secretary-General, he noted, ‘has a plan to break the deadlock and reach a solution of the Cyprus problem,’ while assuring that President Christodoulides ‘is making every possible effort to ensure that António Guterres succeeds in his endeavour.’
‘These are critical moments, as the coming weeks will be decisive for the course of our national cause. Consultations are in full swing at various levels, both at the United Nations and within the European Union, which is supporting the Secretary-General’s efforts in full coordination with him,’ he said.
For this reason, Papadopoulos stressed, ‘now is the time for unity-unity among the people and the leadership, and unity among the political leadership. Unity so that we may achieve, as a first step, the resumption of talks and subsequently the liberation and reunification of our country through a solution based on the decisions and resolutions of the United Nations and the principles and values of the EU.’
A solution, he noted, ‘that will allow the state to function smoothly both domestically and internationally. A solution that will be sustainable and will rid Cyprus of occupying forces and anachronistic guarantee systems.’
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. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
In 2025 the Secretary-General hosted two informal meetings on Cyprus, in March in Geneva and in July in New York, while a tripartite meeting with the Cyprus leaders was also held in late September, at the end of the UN General Assembly High Level Week. An informal meeting in broader format that was expected to take place before the end of 2025, is yet to be announced. María Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties.