The leaders of Cyprus‘ ethnically divided communities have expressed their readiness to participate in a United Nations-led meeting next month, a potential step towards restarting formal negotiations after an eight-year deadlock in resolving one of the world’s most enduring disputes.
President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar separately met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, in preparation for the mid-March gathering. The meeting will also involve representatives from Cyprus’ three guarantor powers—Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres remains committed to assisting both sides in resuming negotiations, DiCarlo stated. Meanwhile, Christodoulides reiterated that the island’s ongoing division is not a sustainable future.
“As we see in our neighborhood, there are no frozen conflicts,” Christodoulides remarked, emphasising the urgency of a resolution.
A Divided Island for Half a Century
Cyprus has remained divided along ethnic lines since 1974 when Turkey invaded the island in response to a coup orchestrated by supporters of unification with Greece. Nearly a decade later, Turkish Cypriots unilaterally declared independence in the northern third of the island—a state recognised only by Turkey, which maintains a military presence of over 35,000 troops there.
Although Cyprus became a member of the European Union in 2004, only the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government in the south fully benefits from EU membership.
Numerous UN-backed peace talks have failed, the most recent collapse occurring in 2017. Since then, Turkey and Turkish Cypriots have shifted away from the long-standing federal solution framework, instead advocating for a two-state arrangement. Tatar insists that Turkish Cypriots must have “sovereign equality and equal international status” alongside Greek Cypriots—a stance firmly rejected by Nicosia, which opposes any settlement that formalises the island’s partition.
Adding to tensions, Greek Cypriots also reject Turkey’s demands for a continued military presence and intervention rights on the island post-settlement.
Challenges to Reconciliation
The deep divide between the two sides is evident even in ongoing disputes over additional crossing points along the 180-kilometer UN-controlled buffer zone. While eight crossings currently facilitate movement between the north and south, further openings remain a point of contention.
The exact date of the upcoming UN-led meeting is yet to be officially confirmed. Tatar suggested it will take place on March 17-18, while Cypriot government spokesperson Constantinos Letymbiotis indicated that final confirmation will come from the UN.
As diplomatic efforts continue, DiCarlo also met with leading women from both communities to discuss enhancing female participation in peacebuilding efforts, reflecting a broader push for inclusive dialogue in Cyprus’ reconciliation process.
(Source: Associated Press)