Guterres and Mitsotakis discuss Cyprus problem at UN General Assembly

New York, United States. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed the Cyprus problem on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the UN said. Their meeting also covered the war in Ukraine, regional developments and the situation in the Middle East.

Diplomatic meetings

The meeting followed separate talks on the Cyprus problem this week between Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and between Guterres and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

Christodoulides, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman and Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis have also met UN Cyprus envoy Maria Angela Holguin. Erdogan met British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who later met Christodoulides.

After meeting Christodoulides, Holguin said the UN was “continuing its efforts” on the Cyprus problem. No concrete progress has been made since Guterres visited Cyprus in July.

Talks remain at an impasse

During that visit, Guterres said he would convene an enlarged meeting involving the island’s two sides, guarantor powers Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, and the UN once “adequate progress” had been made on confidence-building measures, the meeting’s methodology and the substance of the talks.

Christodoulides and Erhurman have met three times since July, but the sides remain divided over political equality, crossing points and the methodology of the talks.

During the summer, the Greek Cypriot side took steps to cancel international events held by the Turkish Cypriot community, including a children’s football camp organised by FC Barcelona and a music festival in Kyrenia. Erhurman said such moves “undermine trust” and stressed last week that creating the “conducive climate” cited by Guterres was crucial to advancing the process.

Christodoulides said after meeting Guterres that the secretary-general was “considering” a tripartite meeting with him and Erhurman, but added that “there must be a positive response from the other side as well”.