The leader of Cyprus believes the United Nations could present a new peace proposal to heal the island’s long-standing division before UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres completes his current term in December.
President Nikos Christodoulides, speaking for the Greek Cypriot community in ongoing discussions with Turkish Cypriots, shared these remarks during a Tuesday evening television interview with Alpha TV Cyprus.
According to Christodoulides, he received word that Guterres felt optimistic following conversations with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during March meetings.
“We might be close to developments, which may lead to a peace plan,” Christodoulides stated during the broadcast.
The Mediterranean island nation has remained partitioned since 1974, when Turkish forces occupied the northern territory following a military coup backed by Greece.
The roots of the conflict trace back to shortly after Cyprus gained independence from British rule in 1960, when a joint governing arrangement between the two ethnic communities broke down amid violent clashes.
Today, Greek Cypriots operate the internationally recognized government in the southern portion, while Turkish Cypriots manage the northern region, with a United Nations-monitored neutral zone separating the two areas.
Previous substantial peace talks fell apart in 2017 due to disputes over Turkey’s potential involvement in a proposed federal system that would have created two autonomous regions under a unified central authority.
Back in 2004, Greek Cypriots voted down a UN reunification proposal, citing inadequate provisions for security guarantees, questions about the sustainability of the merged nation, and unresolved property claims for thousands of displaced residents.
Turkish Cypriots, whose northern territory receives recognition only from Turkey, had supported that earlier proposal.
