Tatar and Christodoulides meet in New York as UN pushes for Cyprus solution

In a key development in the stalled Cyprus reunification talks, President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar are set to meet informally with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday.

According to Yiannis Ioannou's article published in Kathimerini Cyprus in Greek, this marks the first significant diplomatic engagement in nearly eight years.

The informal lunch meeting, taking place in New York, will serve as a "crash test" for the two leaders to gauge if there is any room for negotiations, despite their opposing positions. Both sides have been entrenched in long-standing disputes, with Tatar advocating for sovereign equality and a two-state solution, while Christodoulides supports a settlement based on U.N. resolutions.

It remains unclear whether this meeting will create conditions for a formal return to the negotiating table. However, the tripartite discussion signals a moment of potential diplomatic movement on an issue that has remained deadlocked for decades.

President Christodoulides enters the meeting with a clear aim: to explore whether conditions exist to bridge the gap between the two communities and revive talks aimed at reunification. The president has stressed the importance of resuming dialogue under U.N. frameworks and continues to seek international support, particularly from the U.K., a guarantor nation with a role in Cyprus's past agreements.

Ersin Tatar, who initially rejected the idea of the tripartite meeting, has since agreed to attend. His approach underscores both his insistence on sovereign equality and his aim to shift the conversation toward a two-state solution. Tatar has reiterated his stance, stating, "We are only seeking our own rights, based on equality, to maintain our existence in this country."

Tatar’s participation comes as political changes unfold in the Turkish Cypriot community, which could lead to early elections, potentially putting his leadership at risk. His alignment with Ankara, which gave the green light for his attendance, highlights the broader geopolitical dynamics at play.

Ahead of the New York meeting, President Christodoulides described his recent visit to London as "important and timely." During talks with U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Christodoulides emphasized Britain’s crucial role in the Cyprus issue, particularly as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. The president called on the U.K. to support efforts to end the decades-long division of the island.

Christodoulides also noted that Cyprus is engaged in humanitarian efforts for the Middle East, particularly Gaza, underscoring the country’s strategic importance in the region. Starmer, in turn, highlighted the "valuable" bilateral relations between the U.K. and Cyprus, noting the contributions of the Cypriot community in Britain.

The upcoming meeting with Guterres could be a pivotal moment in determining whether there is a way forward for Cyprus — or if the deadlock will persist.