Nicosia, May 13 — President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides has announced that the United Nations is likely to initiate a fresh effort to resolve the Cyprus problem before the end of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ term this year.
In an interview with Cyprus’s Alpha TV on Tuesday night, Christodoulides said he was informed that Guterres was encouraged by his March discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“We may be close to developments that could lead to a peace plan,” the Cypriot leader stated.
Christodoulides noted that intensive behind-the-scenes consultations are currently underway, covering both the Cyprus issue and energy projects in the Eastern Mediterranean. He suggested that tangible progress could emerge as early as 2026 or even before the end of the UN Secretary-General’s mandate.
Among the immediate next steps, he mentioned the possible convening of a new informal multilateral conference on Cyprus this summer, as well as a visit to the island by the UN Secretary-General’s personal representative, María Ángela Holguín, in June.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded the northern part of the island following a Greek-backed coup. The island remains split between the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus in the south, run by Greek Cypriots, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north, which is recognized only by Ankara. A UN-patrolled buffer zone separates the two sides.
The most recent serious negotiations on reunification under a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation model collapsed in 2017. In 2004, Greek Cypriots rejected the UN’s Annan Plan, citing insufficient guarantees on security and property rights for displaced persons.
Despite past failures, Nicosia continues to support the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation formula and links progress on Cyprus with Turkey’s relations with the European Union.
On the energy front, Christodoulides reported positive developments: negotiations with ENI and Total are progressing well, with a decision on exporting natural gas via Egypt to Europe expected in the coming weeks. New talks with ExxonMobil regarding existing and potential new licenses are also scheduled within the next two weeks.
These economic prospects could provide additional momentum for reviving the long-stalled political dialogue on the Cyprus issue.
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