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The United Nations envoy working to overcome Cyprus’ long-standing division said she is cautiously optimistic about renewed dialogue between the two sides but stressed that conditions are not yet ripe for a broader international summit.
In an interview with Cyprus's Phileleftheros daily, U.N. envoy Maria Angela Holguin said recent meetings with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman have generated early momentum.
Holguin described the Dec. 11 talks as “deep, sincere and very straightforward,” noting that the leaders agreed to also focus on confidence-building measures.
Holguin said the dialogue process remains at an early stage and requires further efforts to establish trust.
“While encouraging, the dialogue process between both leaders is at its early beginning. More will need to be done in order to strengthen the nascent momentum and establish a real climate of trust that would allow the Secretary-General to convene a 5+1 informal meeting,” she said.
A 5+1 meeting would bring together the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and representatives from Britain, Türkiye and Greece.
Cyprus has remained divided for decades following the collapse of a power-sharing administration between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in 1963.
The division deepened in 1974 when Türkiye intervened in the north of the island after a coup backed by the military government then ruling Greece.
Since then, Turkish Cypriots have lived in a breakaway administration in the north, while Greek Cypriots govern the south, which is internationally recognized as representing the entire island and is a member of the European Union.
Britain, Türkiye and Greece are guarantor powers under the 1960 treaty that granted Cyprus independence from Britain.
Holguin said the current priority is strengthening dialogue and confidence between the sides before attempting to revive formal negotiations or convene an international summit to break the seven-year stalemate in peace talks.
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