United Nations and Cyprus negotiations set to happen in New York City
The international community is gearing up for a significant event, as leaders from Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations converge in New York for the "5+1" informal talks on the long-standing Cyprus issue. The meetings, scheduled for July 16-17, 2025, aim to revive efforts towards a lasting solution to the decades-old Cyprus dispute under the auspices of the United Nations [1][3].
The focus of these discussions will be on fostering dialogue and cooperation between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, addressing longstanding grievances, and making progress on six key issues, although previous rounds have yielded limited results [1]. The United Nations Special Representative, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, has been tasked with advancing progress on these topics.
The "5+1" format includes the two Cypriot communities, the three guarantor states, and the United Nations. The expected attendees are UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (as convenor and mediator), TRNC President Ersin Tatar (representing the Turkish Cypriot community), Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides (representing the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus), Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (representing Turkey), Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis (representing Greece), and UK Minister of State for Europe, North America, and Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty (representing the UK) [3][4].
The Turkish side has expressed hope that the meeting will lead to practical steps to enhance cooperation and good neighbourly relations between the two communities, though official negotiations remain contingent on certain conditions being met by the Greek Cypriot side [1][2][3]. The meetings are informal, meaning no binding agreements are expected, but they are seen as an opportunity to break the current deadlock since negotiations stalled in 2017 [1].
The talks will start on July 16 with a dinner hosted by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the U.N. premises. On July 17, the parties will hold bilateral meetings before convening in the 5+1 format [5]. The leaders of Turkish Cyprus, Greek Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, and the United Kingdom will participate in these discussions.
It is worth noting that the meetings do not constitute the continuation of the past negotiations or the resumption of a new process [2]. Moreover, the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials insist that any talks for resolving the issue on the island should be based on a two-state solution, which is a departure from the five-decades-old UN parameters for a bizonal and bicommunal federal solution [6].
The Geneva meetings in March marked the first time this format was used, and improvements were recorded in cooperation in climate and environmental changes, restoration of cemeteries, and youth matters. However, no progress was observed in the remaining issues due to Greek Cyprus' rejections [6].
The New York meetings will evaluate all discussed issues, providing an opportunity for the international community to engage in constructive dialogue and potentially move closer to a resolution of this long-standing dispute. The UN seeks to build momentum for a comprehensive settlement, but given the deep-seated differences and lack of progress in previous rounds, expectations for a breakthrough remain cautious [1][3].
The policy and legislation surrounding the Cyprus issue will likely be discussed during the "5+1" informal talks, as world leaders delve into the complex politics of war and conflicts in the region. General news outlets will closely follow the discussions, particularly focusing on the focus of fostering dialogue and cooperation between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, and the potential progress on six key issues.
