G/c and T/c parties urge UNSG to seek ways for Cyprus talks resumption
Leaders and representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties have “warmly welcomed” the UN Secretary General’s commitment to the Cyprus process and “called him to seek ways to commence negotiations on the substance of the Cyprus problem”, according to a Joint Communique issued after the meeting of leaders and representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties participating in the bicommunal dialogue under the auspices of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic at the Ledra Palace Hotel.
“The parties concluded that only with an agreed and comprehensive solution based on the UN resolutions and with the active support and encouragement of the EU realizing the full implementation of the acquis communautaire to the entire territory of Cyprus we can overcome division” it says.
They also called on the two leaders who will participate in the bilateral meeting under the UN auspices to engage in negotiations on the substance of the Cyprus problem in good faith and with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the problem as soon as possible.
The representatives held a discussion on the issue presented by the representative of the Democratic Rally, entitled “The Role of the European Union as one of the key driving forces for cooperation between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.”
The representatives of the political parties expressed their views, comments and suggestions on the presented issue analysing EU’s role so far and emphasizing the important role of the EU as a credible external actor on driving peace and cooperation. They agreed that Cypriots would welcome greater EU engagement on initiatives aiming to build trust and deliver tangible results.
According to the Joint Communique, the representatives called for more consultation engaging civil society and other actors from both communities of the island to work together on various areas such as youth, culture, and environment. They emphasized the roles of education and other initiatives in combating misinformation and hate rhetoric.
In addition, the parties concluded that only with an agreed and comprehensive solution based on the UN resolutions and with the active support and encouragement of the EU realizing the full implementation of the acquis communautaire to the entire territory of Cyprus we can overcome division.
Moreover, the parties called on the two leaders who will participate in the bilateral meeting under the UN auspices to engage in negotiations on the substance of the Cyprus problem in good faith and with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the problem as soon as possible. They also called upon all other parties involved to support a conducive atmosphere towards this direction.
The political parties added that for the discussion on substance to be successful, confidence building measures should be pursued in parallel by all parties involved to support a conducive atmosphere of trust and ease ongoing challenges in the daily lives of the people.
They also welcomed warmly the UN Secretary General’s commitment to the process and called him to seek ways to commence negotiations on the substance of the Cyprus problem.
The next meeting of the leaders and representatives of the political parties will be held on 5 November 2025 with the United Democrats as the hosting party. It is noted that the Turkish Cypriot Democratic Party (DP) doesn’t endorse this Joint Communique.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
A second informal meeting on Cyprus in broader format was held in New York, on July 16-17, 2025, following a first one in March in Geneva. Another meeting is anticipated later this year, to follow up on initiatives, agreed by the parties, which the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said they demonstrate a commitment to continuing a dialogue on the way forward. Guterres also announced that he would meet jointly with Cyprus leaders during the General Assembly high-level week, in September.
The two sides in Cyprus continue discussions on outstanding issues, including the opening of crossing points and a solar energy installation in the buffer zone. They also agreed to cooperate on a number of issues, including the exchange of cultural artifacts, while Maria Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, will continue her efforts.
The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, in close cooperation with Holguín.
