UN hosts key meeting between Cyprus leaders after years of stalemate

This Tuesday marks a pivotal moment in the Cyprus problem, as the leaders of the two communities meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

According to Yiannis Ioannou's article published in Kathimerini Cyprus in Greek, this informal lunch between President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar represents the first significant development in nearly eight years, following months of diplomatic stagnation. The meeting will test whether the two sides, with fundamentally opposing positions, can find common ground to restart negotiations. The outcome could set the stage for breaking the long-standing deadlock.

Greek Cypriot Approach President Christodoulides arrives at the meeting with a sense of accomplishment, as the informal trilateral was a result of months of Nicosia’s diplomatic efforts. He enters politically bolstered by the support of major parties, DISY and AKEL, which back his “four-point” proposal aimed at unlocking the negotiation process. While committed to the UN framework for a federal solution, Christodoulides remains firm against the Turkish Cypriot demand for sovereign equality or any discussion of direct flights, trade, or recognition.

His recent visit to London also signals preparation for a potential international conference on Cyprus, which could be a next step depending on the outcome of the New York talks.

Turkish Cypriot Stance Tatar’s participation is notable, given his earlier dismissal of the trilateral meeting. He brings a focus on recognition and sovereign equality, insisting these are preconditions for resuming dialogue. However, his presence also suggests a pragmatic acceptance of dialogue, possibly seeking diplomatic gains through a process he initially resisted.

Tatar’s position is influenced by internal dynamics in the Turkish Cypriot community, including the prospect of early parliamentary elections, as well as close coordination with Ankara, which ultimately approved the trilateral meeting.

The Larger Picture While the informal lunch in New York won’t immediately restart formal negotiations, it will offer a critical opportunity for Guterres to gauge both sides' willingness to move forward. Guterres holds the key documents: the 2017 Guterres framework and the report by his envoy, Maria Angela Ogin, summarizing recent developments. The challenge will be reconciling the two leaders' red lines and determining if there is a path toward resuming talks.

Diplomats believe that, regardless of the outcome, this meeting is an "intermediate" step, with the real progress or failure of Cyprus talks likely to unfold over the next year.