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According to a report by Kathimerini's Yiannis Ioannou, President Nicos Christodoulides expressed his readiness for a trilateral meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "anytime and anywhere" in a bid to revive stalled Cyprus reunification talks. Christodoulides made the statement after meeting with Guterres on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The two discussed the Cyprus problem and regional tensions, including the situation in Gaza. Christodoulides emphasized Guterres’ commitment to the Cyprus issue, describing the UN chief as “politically committed” to restarting negotiations.
Diplomatic sources indicated that a trilateral meeting could happen by the end of the year, contingent on a signal from Ankara. The Cypriot side has proposed several dates in October, and if agreed upon, the meeting may take place on Cypriot soil, coinciding with the expected return of UN envoy Maria-Angela Olgin in early October.
Christodoulides highlighted the Greek Cypriot side’s efforts to create a positive climate for talks, referencing the European Council's support, diplomatic engagement with Turkey, and several unilateral measures aimed at benefiting Turkish Cypriots.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar is set to meet Guterres on September 28, a meeting considered pivotal. Tatar faces pressure from the Turkish Cypriot political scene, where the ruling UBP party has officially endorsed a two-state solution. Tatar’s stance in the meeting will likely influence whether he agrees to a trilateral meeting, as he has previously insisted on sovereign equality and a two-state model, a position strongly supported by Ankara.
The trilateral discussions come amid broader geopolitical negotiations. During the UN General Assembly, Christodoulides also met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and French President Emmanuel Macron. Their meeting focused not only on the Cyprus issue but also on a major energy project, the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection. Macron’s involvement signals France's interest in the project, which involves the French company Nexans. This interconnector is seen as a strategic energy initiative linking the two countries’ power grids.
As tensions in the region continue, the upcoming meetings and the possible trilateral engagement between the Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot, and UN leaders could shape the future of the peace process on the divided island.
