Five-party meeting in New York represents a critical juncture for Cyprus talks

The Cyprus issue, a decades-long diplomatic challenge, takes center stage in New York this week as key stakeholders convene to address its complexities.

An informal expanded meeting, set to begin with a dinner on Wednesday evening (New York time), will be followed by separate sessions and a plenary session on Thursday, 17 July. These discussions, hosted by the United Nations, aim to chart the next steps in resolving one of the most enduring conflicts in international diplomacy.

The Head of United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus, Colin Stewart, is set to deliver on 14 July his final address to the Security Council before retiring. Stewart will present analyses of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ reports on the UN’s good offices and peacekeeping operations in Cyprus, setting the stage for the upcoming talks.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides will travel to UN Headquarters in New York for the informal five-party meeting on 16–17 July. Convened by Guterres following an earlier multilateral meeting in Geneva in March, this gathering seeks to break the stalemate in negotiations, with the Greek Cypriot side advocating for a resumption of talks from the point they stalled in Crans-Montana in 2017.

The Cyprus conflict, rooted in the island’s division since 1974 following a Turkish invasion triggered by a Greek-backed coup, has seen Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots separated by a UN-patrolled buffer zone, with numerous failed peace talks over decades.

A major push for resolution came with the Annan Plan, named after the the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, culminating in negotiations in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in 2004. While the Turkish Cypriot community approved the plan, it was rejected by 76% of Greek Cypriots in a referendum, highlighting starkly divergent visions for Cyprus’ future.

Despite joining the EU in 2004 as a de facto divided island, the whole of Cyprus is EU territory.

Negotiations intensified in 2016–2017, with key talks in Mont Pèlerin, Geneva, and Crans-Montana. The Guterres Framework, intended as a blueprint for a bizonal, bicommunal federation, failed to bridge divides over territory, security guarantees, and political equality, further eroding trust between the communities.

Despite UN efforts, including the collapsed 2017 Crans-Montana talks, progress has been elusive due to disagreements over governance, security, and territory.

After 2017, the Cyprus issue has evolved significantly. Initially framed around international guarantees and a unified state, discussions shifted toward a UN-backed federation model. Today, the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s push for a two-state solution contrasts sharply with the Greek Cypriot commitment to a bizonal, bicommunal federation based on UN resolutions.

The Turkish Cypriot side argues that a federation cannot ensure political equality, favoring instead a clear separation of states. Meanwhile, the Greek Cypriot side, supported by the international community, views a federation as the only viable path to reunification.

In 2021, the Turkish Cypriot leadership, led by Ersin Tatar and backed by Ankara, shifted toward advocating a two-state solution, demanding international recognition of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (TRNC). This proposal was rejected by the Greek Cypriot side and the international community, deepening the impasse.

In a significant move, the European Commission has appointed Johannes Hahn, a former Austrian European Commissioner, as the new special envoy for Cypriot reunification. Reporting to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and working alongside the UN’s personal envoy, María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, Hahn’s role underscores the EU’s commitment to a comprehensive settlement aligned with UN Security Council resolutions and EU principles.

Cypriot President Christodoulides hailed the appointment as a strong signal of EU support for Cyprus.

UN mediator makes another attempt to revive the Cyprus reunification talks

What’s at stake in New York

The five-party meeting in New York involving represents a critical juncture. The five parties involved in are the Greek Cypriot community, represented by President Nikos Christodoulides; the Turkish Cypriot community, represented by leader Ersin Tatar; and the three guarantor powers – Greece, represented by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis; Turkey, represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; and the United Kingdom, represented at a bureaucratic level.

Key issues include restarting substantive talks and determining whether negotiations can resume from the 2017 Crans-Montana framework or if a new approach is needed.

A key objective is to sustain the dialogue on the two-state solution for Cyprus. This involves stopping the Turkish Cypriot demand for recognition of the Republic of Northern Cyprus while considering the international community’s stance on this proposal, according to EUalive’s partner Politis. The so-called Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognised internationally only by Turkey.

To facilitate progress, confidence-building measures must be established. Small-scale initiatives could help rebuild trust and create a foundation for broader negotiations.

Additionally, the influence of external actors, namely the European Union, the United Nations, and the guarantor powers (Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom), could play a role in shaping a sustainable resolution.

Edited by a.k. and g.g.

Caption: Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides attends a joint press conference with his Latvian counterpart after their meeting in Riga, Latvia, 19 June 2025. EPA/TOMS KALNINS