Guterres: Confidence-Building Measures Cannot Replace Negotiations

In his Good Offices report, Guterres called on the two leaders to reach an agreement that safeguards the rights and interests of all Cypriots and enables them to build a shared future.

He said the current window of opportunity should not be missed, warning that it may not remain open indefinitely, and urged all parties to approach the process with openness, flexibility and a spirit of compromise while demonstrating the necessary political will and commitment.

Guterres welcomed the intensified dialogue between President Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, saying it reflected a commitment to building trust and finding a path forward on the Cyprus issue.

Noting the increase in meetings since Erhürman took office, Guterres called on both leaders to continue engaging constructively with each other and with his Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín, with the aim of resuming negotiations leading to a lasting and comprehensive settlement.

He also welcomed the support of the guarantor powers for efforts to find a mutually acceptable way forward, expressing confidence that the international community, including the European Union, would continue backing the process.

The remarks were included in two U.N. reports covering the work of the Good Offices Mission and the U.N. Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) between December 16, 2025 and June 17, 2026.

Representatives met 26 times

According to the report, Holguín visited Cyprus in January and June, holding separate meetings with both leaders as well as a joint meeting on January 28. She also met political parties, the leaders' representatives and other stakeholders, while maintaining contacts with officials from Turkey, Greece, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States.

The report noted that the two leaders held three additional meetings during the six-month period, while their representatives met 26 times.

Progress was reported on three of the ten agreed confidence-building measures: establishing a consultative body for civil society participation, restoring cemeteries and advancing the Youth Technical Committee.

Guterres welcomed agreement on creating the consultative body, describing it as an important step toward a more inclusive peace process and stressing the importance of keeping the public informed and engaged.

174 meetings held by 13 technical committees

The report said the leaders' renewed commitment had strengthened the work of the technical committees, with coordinators meeting weekly.

A total of 174 meetings were held by 13 technical committees, with the most active covering crossings, cultural heritage, culture, economic and commercial affairs, health and youth.

The report also noted the completion of expansion works at the Metehan crossing and urged the leaders to explore ways of overcoming the deadlock over opening new crossing points.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage continued joint initiatives with other committees, while restoration and preservation work at around 70 cemeteries has been completed, is ongoing or is under preparation.

The Health Technical Committee continued coordinating treatment and medication cases, while the Veterinary Subcommittee met regularly to monitor the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, exchange information and facilitate island-wide access to EU-supplied vaccines.

Guterres also encouraged further cooperation in education, crisis management and environmental issues, highlighting sport as an important tool for reconciliation and confidence-building.

'Confidence-building measures cannot replace negotiations'

The report says confidence-building measures can improve the daily lives of Cypriots and demonstrate political commitment to progress.

However, Guterres stressed that such measures cannot substitute for negotiations on a comprehensive settlement, warning that failure to advance these initiatives could make achieving a lasting solution even more difficult.

He reiterated that a comprehensive settlement has the potential to strengthen security, prosperity and development while enabling the two communities to live together in an environment of tolerance, solidarity and mutual respect, adding that the United Nations remains committed to supporting the parties in that effort.