Nicosia, Cyprus. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman have shown commitment to building trust through intensified dialogue in recent months.
In an advance copy of his latest report on the UN’s good offices in Cyprus, Guterres urged both leaders to use the current opportunity to make progress towards an agreement that considers the interests and rights of all Cypriots.
Dialogue and trust-building measures
Guterres said the increased dialogue between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders during the reporting period was positive and reflected their commitment to building a relationship based on trust and finding a path forward on the Cyprus issue.
However, he said several trust-building initiatives agreed at enlarged meetings on the Cyprus problem in March and July last year remained unimplemented.
He said implementation would improve the daily lives of Cypriots and demonstrate that both sides have the political will to make progress. Without progress on the initiatives, he warned, a lasting solution could remain elusive.
Call for constructive engagement
The UN secretary-general encouraged Christodoulides and Erhurman to continue constructive engagement with each other and with UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin.
He said the current window of opportunity should not be taken for granted and urged both sides to engage with determination in constructing a shared future through an agreement.
Guterres also referred to UN Security Council resolution 2723, which called on both sides to show openness, flexibility and compromise in pursuit of a solution.
Technical committees and concerns
Guterres praised the work of the bicommunal technical committees and urged the leaders to support progress in education, crisis management and environmental matters.
He stressed the role of education in promoting reconciliation, forgiveness and cooperation among school-aged children. He also said sport can bring together people who might not otherwise interact and urged the leaders to work in that area.
Guterres said he remained deeply concerned about unilateral actions by both sides in and around the buffer zone, as well as the lack of progress in taking de-escalatory steps.
