Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders have gathered in Geneva for discussions aimed at finding a resolution for Cyprus, a Mediterranean island divided since 1974 following a Turkish military
intervention.
UN seeks to restart negotiations
UN Secretary-General António Guterres hosted a dinner on Monday evening ahead of an informal meeting on Tuesday, seeking to revive stalled negotiations over the island’s future.
Is Geneva still the capital of peace?
Ersin Tatar, the president of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, expressed optimism upon his arrival, telling the Keystone-SDA news agency, “I am very confident. We must forget the past and look to the future.” Tatar remains firm on his demand for a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, has reiterated his vision for a unified state with two communities, in line with UN Security Council resolutions.
UN pushes for a unified Cyprus
The UN Security Council has long upheld the territorial integrity and indivisibility of Cyprus, calling for the withdrawal of Turkish troops stationed on the island.
The Geneva talks also include representatives from the island’s three guarantor powers—Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and British European Secretary Stephen Doughty are all in attendance.
This is the first time in over three years that such a format has been convened. However, expectations for significant progress remain low, as both sides maintain opposing views on the island’s future.
The Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state governed from Nicosia and predominantly inhabited by Greek Cypriots, controls the southern part of the island. Turkish Cypriots, who govern the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus—recognized only by Turkey—continue to advocate for a two-state solution. Meanwhile, Greek Cypriots and the UN favor reunification under a single federal system. Photo by Dickelbers, Wikimedia commons.