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After years of deadlock and the longest freeze in peace talks Cyprus has ever seen, the United Nations says something has shifted, cautiously, but noticeably.
In a new report, UN Secretary-General António Guterres says recent meetings between Cyprus’ two leaders, along with the arrival of a new Turkish Cypriot leader, have opened what he calls a “new moment of opportunity” to move the long-stalled Cyprus peace process forward.
It is the first time since 2020 that the leaders have discussed core political issues face-to-face, a small but significant step after more than five years without meaningful negotiations.
“The dialogue is encouraging,” Guterres writes, while warning that it remains fragile and at an early stage.
The renewed momentum comes after informal talks held in 2025 and a key joint meeting on Dec. 11, facilitated by the UN’s personal envoy, María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar. At that meeting, the two leaders agreed that their goal remains a settlement based on political equality, as laid out in UN Security Council resolutions, a commitment the secretary-general notes had not been clearly reaffirmed in years.
Guterres also welcomed the continued involvement of the three guarantor powers, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, calling their engagement crucial, especially at a time when relations between Athens and Ankara have slightly improved.
Still, the UN chief made clear that goodwill alone will not be enough.
He urged both sides to show stronger determination on trust-building measures that have stalled, pointing in particular to the opening of new crossing points across the divided island. Such steps, he said, could have an immediate and practical impact on everyday life, boosting contact, trade and understanding between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
“Crossings can have a tangible positive impact on the daily lives of people,” Guterres stressed.
The report highlights progress in technical-level cooperation, especially through bicommunal technical committees. These groups, which work on practical issues like youth, culture and the environment, held more than 150 meetings during the reporting period. The committee on youth was singled out as especially promising, while the committee on cultural heritage completed major restoration projects on monuments and cemeteries.
But other areas lagged behind. Committees on education, gender equality and crisis management showed little or no progress, a concern flagged by the secretary-general.
At the same time, Guterres voiced serious concern over continued military activity in and around the UN buffer zone, warning that new constructions, surveillance systems and other unilateral actions risk undermining stability. He reiterated that the UN’s position on Varosha remains unchanged, again citing Security Council resolutions calling for a reversal of actions taken there since 2020.
While the overall security situation remained relatively calm, with no major incidents reported in the buffer zone, the report notes that no real progress has been made in rolling back military buildup along the ceasefire lines.
The election of Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman in October, with more than 60% of the vote, is described as a key turning point. He was elected on a platform promising to overcome internal divisions and return to talks aimed at a federal solution.
Despite the cautious optimism, Guterres made clear that the window of opportunity will not stay open indefinitely.
“More will need to be done to strengthen the nascent momentum and establish a genuine climate of trust,” he wrote.
The secretary-general recommended that the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus, UNFICYP, have its mandate renewed for another year, underlining its essential role in keeping tensions in check, even as it operates under financial strain and limited cooperation on the ground.
