Christodoulides Heads to New York as UN Weighs Next Steps on Cyprus

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NEW YORK: The Cyprus issue is set to return to the centre of diplomatic attention at the United Nations this week as President Nikos Christodoulides travels to New York for a series of meetings with senior UN officials and international leaders.

The focus will be on the next steps in the UN backed process, following recent contacts between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

UN Secretary General António Guterres is expected to assess the situation after hearing from both leaders and receiving an update from his Personal Envoy on Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguín.

The discussions are taking place against the backdrop of renewed efforts to rebuild trust between the two sides. On September 17, Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman met under UN auspices in the UN Protected Area in Nicosia, where they held discussions on confidence building measures.

The United Nations has previously indicated that it wants to build on the progress made through confidence building initiatives and create conditions for broader political discussions.

Ankara remains a key factor

For Nicosia, Turkey’s position remains a central consideration in determining whether the diplomatic process can move forward.

A new meeting involving the two Cypriot leaders, Greece, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the European Union would require sufficient political preparation and agreement among the relevant parties.

Ankara has continued to support a two state approach to the Cyprus issue, while the Republic of Cyprus supports a settlement within the UN framework.

The UN has stressed that it cannot impose a settlement and that progress ultimately depends on the willingness of the sides to engage in dialogue. During his July visit to Cyprus, Guterres said the organisation would work with the two sides and the guarantor powers to create conditions for another broader meeting.

Christodoulides’ New York schedule

Christodoulides is due to begin his New York programme with meetings connected to the Cyprus issue and the wider agenda of the UN General Assembly.

On Monday, September 21, he is scheduled to meet Jordan’s King Abdullah II and participate in a summit focused on multilateralism, international law, peace and prosperity.

On Tuesday, September 22, Christodoulides is scheduled to meet Holguín, the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus.

His address to the UN General Assembly is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23.

On Thursday, September 24, Christodoulides is scheduled to meet Guterres. He will subsequently host a luncheon for the permanent representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The meetings come during the UN General Assembly’s high level week, which runs from September 18 to 28. The General Debate itself begins on September 22.

UN message on Cyprus peace efforts

The UN has also used the International Day of Peace to underline its continued involvement in Cyprus.

Khassim Diagne, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, said the organisation welcomed the continued involvement of political leaders, civil society, young people, women and communities across the island in efforts to promote peace and reconciliation.

Diagne said the UN remained committed to supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Cyprus, while UNFICYP would continue carrying out its mandate on the island.

The UN peacekeeping mission has been present in Cyprus for more than six decades, with its role including maintaining stability, facilitating dialogue and supporting conditions for a comprehensive settlement.

Guterres has also recently called on world leaders to invest in diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation and peacekeeping, warning that conflicts and divisions are deepening globally.

What happens next

The immediate question is whether the New York meetings can produce enough common ground for the UN to advance the Cyprus process.

Guterres is expected to take stock of the positions of the two sides and the work of his Personal Envoy before determining the next diplomatic steps.

For Nicosia, the priority remains maintaining momentum towards a renewed negotiating process. For the UN, the challenge is to translate confidence building measures into conditions that could support substantive negotiations.

The outcome of the meetings in New York is therefore expected to provide an indication of whether the Cyprus process can move into a new phase or remain focused primarily on confidence building measures.

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