United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone call late on Monday night to discuss the Cyprus problem, highlighting ongoing geopolitical developments.
Recent Developments on Cyprus
According to the Turkish presidential communications directorate, the conversation focused on “the latest developments on the island of Cyprus.” This call occurred shortly after UN envoy for the Cyprus problem, Maria Angela Holguin, met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara. While neither the UN nor the Turkish foreign ministry issued an official statement following their meeting, sources indicate that this dialogue is part of a “new initiative” aimed at resuming formal negotiations regarding Cyprus.
Turkey’s Position and Diplomatic Efforts
High-level sources informed the Cyprus Mail that President Erdogan has endorsed this new initiative. Erdogan is reportedly of the opinion that the ongoing lack of a resolution to the Cyprus issue has “unduly cost Turkey through no fault of its own” over the years. According to these sources, Turkey’s backing of both the 2004 referendum and the 2017 negotiations—both rejected by the Greek Cypriot side—demonstrates Erdogan’s “pragmatic and constructive stance” and his willingness to work towards a solution.
Holguin’s Meetings and Future Plans
During her recent visit, Holguin met with both Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman last Friday. She is scheduled to meet Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis later this week before travelling to Brussels. Following her Brussels visit, Holguin intends to return to Cyprus for further discussions with Christodoulides and Erhurman before the end of this month.
Additionally, there is a plan for an enlarged meeting on the Cyprus issue, involving the two sides of the island and its three guarantor powers—Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, along with the UN. This meeting is expected to take place either in late July or early August.
Goals of the Upcoming Meeting
Both Guterres and Erdogan have expressed their desire to see tangible results from the next enlarged meeting concerning Cyprus. President Christodoulides emphasised that the objective is to facilitate a meeting that would announce the resumption of talks. Meanwhile, Erhurman, speaking on the political talk show Er Meydani, insisted that the enlarged meeting must “yield meaningful results.”
Broader Geopolitical Discussions
In addition to the Cyprus discussions, Guterres and Erdogan addressed various other geopolitical matters during their call. Erdogan informed Guterres about Turkey’s ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in multiple regions, particularly in Iran, Gaza, and the Horn of Africa. He also commented on the recent announcement of an agreement aimed at halting the war between the United States and Iran, stating that “the opportunity for a diplomatic solution to the issues between the United States and Iran must be very well utilised.”
Erdogan further articulated that “the international community has a responsibility to ensure that the process is not sabotaged.” He praised the “effective continuation of the activities of UN missions in Syria,” calling them of “great importance,” and reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to supporting these initiatives.
Looking Ahead
The discussions between Guterres and Erdogan signal a concerted effort towards addressing the longstanding Cyprus problem, alongside other pressing geopolitical issues. As diplomatic engagements increase, both leaders seem committed to exploring avenues for peace and resolution, not just in Cyprus but in broader regional contexts.
