Cypriot Greeks and Turks to meet informally with UN Secretary-General

(Patria) - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will once again bring together the rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus this month following a constructive atmosphere at an earlier meeting aimed at reviving stalled peace talks, a UN spokesperson said Wednesday, AP reported.

Stéphane Dujarric said the informal July 16-17 meeting at UN headquarters in New York would provide an opportunity to continue the dialogue and exchange views on progress made since March. At that meeting, Cypriot Greek leader Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar agreed on confidence-building measures on issues such as energy, the environment, the opening of four new crossing points along the UN-controlled buffer zone, youth affairs and demining.

The Mediterranean island was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of a union with Greece, backed by the Athens junta. Only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence and has more than 35,000 troops in the northern third of the island. Talks between the rivals have been stalled since 2017.

Maria Angela Holguin, the new envoy appointed by Guterres, said at the end of her first week-long visit to Cyprus in late May that Guterres continues to insist on the resumption of peace talks.

However, no breakthrough is expected at this month's meeting as Turkey and Turkish Cypriots insist on a two-state solution that Greek Cypriots firmly reject.

The agreed framework for a peace deal, endorsed by the United Nations, was the reunification of Cyprus as a federation composed of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot zones. Since the 2020 elections, Tatar has been demanding a two-state solution. He faces re-election in October and says he is running on the same two-state platform with full support from Ankara.

Greek Cypriots say they will not agree to any deal that formally divides the island, allows for the permanent presence of Turkish troops, gives Turkey the right of military intervention, or offers the minority Turkish Cypriots veto power over all government decisions.

Despite these differences, the rivals have made some progress on confidence-building measures, which include work on a photovoltaic park within the buffer zone and restoration work on cemeteries on both sides.