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British Minister of State for Europe and North America, Stephen Doughty, is in Cyprus today, engaging in a series of important meetings with both sides of the political spectrum. His visit comes ahead of the informal expanded talks on the Cyprus issue in Geneva later this month, a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to resolve the long-standing division of the island.
As of this afternoon, Doughty has been in back-to-back discussions with President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, at the Presidential Palace in the southern part of the island. The minister is set to continue his meetings with Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus, marking the start of a comprehensive day of diplomatic talks.
In addition to these high-level meetings, Doughty has been engaging with prominent political figures, including Cyprus’ Foreign Minister, Constantinos Kombos, Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, House President Annita Demetriou, DISY party President, and AKEL party General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou. This afternoon, Doughty is also scheduled to meet with Turkish Cypriot politician Tufan Erhurman, the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP).
The British minister’s visit is seen as an important step in preparing for the Geneva meeting on March 17-18, where UN Secretary-General António Guterres will facilitate discussions between Christodoulides and Tatar. Representatives from Greece, Turkey, and the UK will also be in attendance to discuss ways forward for the island, following an informal dinner between the two leaders in New York in October 2024.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island after a Turkish-backed coup. Several rounds of UN-led peace talks have failed to bring a resolution, with the most recent attempt in 2017 ending inconclusively at the Crans-Montana summit. The upcoming Geneva talks will focus on moving the process forward, with the international community eagerly watching for any signs of progress.
As the clock ticks down to the crucial Geneva meeting, Doughty’s visit is being viewed as a significant diplomatic effort to foster dialogue and encourage momentum toward a potential resolution to the Cyprus conflict. The results of the talks will have profound implications for the future of the island, and many hope this may be the moment where a path to reunification begins to take shape.
