United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will host talks next week in Geneva to discuss the future of Cyprus, as opposing views on the island’s political status remain deeply divided.
"The Secretary-General will bring together the two Cypriot leaders and the guarantor powers—Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom—for an informal meeting on Cyprus at the UN Office in Geneva on 17th - 18th March.
"The informal meeting ... will provide an opportunity for a meaningful discussion on the way forward on the Cyprus issue," said U.N. spokesperson Michele Zaccheo at a Geneva press briefing on Friday.
Cyprus has been embroiled in a decades-long dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, despite repeated UN-led diplomatic efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement.
The talks are seen as a way to try to break a deadlock in peace negotiations that stalled in 2017.
TRNC Foreign minister, Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, downplayed the likelihood of progress.
"The Greek Cypriots want to use the opportunity (meeting) to ... pick up the negotiation from where they were left off (in 2017)," Ertuğruloğlu told Reuters recently. "For us, it is an opportunity to reiterate how we see the way forward: two separate, sovereign, equal states."
"There is no likelihood of establishing a partnership with the Greek Cypriots so why bother? Why insist on a proven failure of a formula? It's our question to the United Nations," he added.
Ahead of the Geneva talks, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ersin Tatar reiterated that sovereign equality and equal international status are prerequisites for any negotiations. He stated that a federation-based solution is no longer viable.
Last Saturday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with President Nikos Christodoulides at Maximos Mansion, highlighting the alignment between Athens and Nicosia.
"I want to reiterate my appreciation for your efforts to keep this dialogue alive and achieve a fair and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue, always based on United Nations resolutions," Mitsotakis told the Cypriot president.
Christodoulides stated that he had "a clear plan and strategy" for the upcoming Geneva talks. "We know exactly what we want—to resume talks from where they were suspended in the summer of 2017, utilizing the progress made in negotiations, with the sole aim of resolving the Cyprus issue based on the agreed framework, principles, and values of the European Union," he added.
A Turkish Cypriot breakaway "state" declared in the north is recognised only by Turkey, while the Republic of Cyprus has an internationally recognised government led by Greek Cypriots. Cyprus is also an EU member since 2004.
DiCarlo will meet "with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders", UN spokesman announced.
Researchers in Cyprus discovered a portrait that has been hidden for centuries beneath a 1570 oil painting.
A Cyprus-flagged cargo ship crashed into a pier in Marina di Massa, causing a partial collapse, the Italian Coast Guard reported on Wednesday.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's historic visit to Cyprus underscores strengthened ties as the island aligns with the West, shedding its Russian-linked past. Talks focused on sanctions expertise, regional stability, and Britain's role as a guarantor of Cypriot independence.
Cyprus has taken delivery of an Israeli air defence system, local media reported on Thursday, as the east Mediterranean island taps new markets to upgrade its defence capabilities after the loss of key supplier Russia.
Türkiye has firmly rejected Greece's unilateral actions and claims regarding maritime spatial planning (MSP) in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, asserting that these actions will have no legal consequences for Ankara.
A passenger boat caught fire and capsized late Tuesday on the Congo River, killing at least 50 people and leaving hundreds more missing, officials confirmed Wednesday. The tragedy occurred near the northwestern town of Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A new wave of attacks targeting French prisons has emerged overnight, with cars set on fire at several facilities, including at the Tarascon prison in southern France.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is set to visit Russia on Thursday, ahead of a second round of talks between Tehran and the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program. According to Russia’s RIA state news agency, Araqchi will meet with senior Russian officials during the visit.
Greece has submitted its long-awaited maritime spatial plan to the European Union, outlining how it will organize various maritime activities such as fishing, tourism, offshore energy, and more.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 10th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A quiet Thursday afternoon at St. Peter’s Basilica turned into something extraordinary, as visitors caught a rare glimpse of Pope Francis — not in his familiar white papal robes, but dressed in black trousers and a striped blanket.
In a dramatic about-face, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 90-day pause on newly implemented tariffs for dozens of countries — a move that eased market turmoil but further escalated tensions with China.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
U.S. President Donald Trump will personally attend a key meeting with Japanese trade officials on Wednesday, signaling his direct involvement in negotiations stemming from his recent wave of tariffs on global imports.
Türkiye has firmly rejected Greece's unilateral actions and claims regarding maritime spatial planning (MSP) in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, asserting that these actions will have no legal consequences for Ankara.
A passenger boat caught fire and capsized late Tuesday on the Congo River, killing at least 50 people and leaving hundreds more missing, officials confirmed Wednesday. The tragedy occurred near the northwestern town of Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A new wave of attacks targeting French prisons has emerged overnight, with cars set on fire at several facilities, including at the Tarascon prison in southern France.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is set to visit Russia on Thursday, ahead of a second round of talks between Tehran and the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program. According to Russia’s RIA state news agency, Araqchi will meet with senior Russian officials during the visit.
Türkiye has firmly rejected Greece's unilateral actions and claims regarding maritime spatial planning (MSP) in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, asserting that these actions will have no legal consequences for Ankara.
A passenger boat caught fire and capsized late Tuesday on the Congo River, killing at least 50 people and leaving hundreds more missing, officials confirmed Wednesday. The tragedy occurred near the northwestern town of Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A new wave of attacks targeting French prisons has emerged overnight, with cars set on fire at several facilities, including at the Tarascon prison in southern France.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is set to visit Russia on Thursday, ahead of a second round of talks between Tehran and the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program. According to Russia’s RIA state news agency, Araqchi will meet with senior Russian officials during the visit.
Greece has submitted its long-awaited maritime spatial plan to the European Union, outlining how it will organize various maritime activities such as fishing, tourism, offshore energy, and more.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment