The United Nations envoy working to resolve Cyprus’s decades-long division has expressed cautious optimism following recent discussions with leaders from both sides of the island, while stressing that the situation is not yet ready for a large international summit.
In an interview with Cyprus-based newspaper Phileleftheros, UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin said she came away encouraged after meeting Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on December 11. According to Holguin, the conversations were meaningful and honest, with both leaders agreeing to place renewed emphasis on confidence-building measures.
She described the dialogue as deep, sincere, and very straightforward, but emphasized that the process is still in its earliest phase. While the tone is promising, Holguin cautioned that much more work is required to build genuine trust and sustained momentum.
She noted that calling a so-called 5+1 informal meeting at this stage would be premature. Such a meeting would bring together the leaders of the two Cypriot communities alongside the UN Secretary-General and representatives from Britain, Greece, and Turkey. These three countries are guarantor powers under the treaty that granted Cyprus independence from Britain in 1960.
Peace negotiations on the island have remained stalled for the past seven years, and Holguin underlined that any future high-level summit must be grounded in a solid climate of trust to avoid repeating past failures.
Cyprus has remained divided for decades following the collapse of a power-sharing government between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in 1963. The situation escalated in 1974 when Turkey intervened militarily after a brief coup backed by the Greek military junta. Since then, the island has been split along ethnic lines.
Today, Turkish Cypriots administer a self-declared state in the north, while Greek Cypriots govern the south through an internationally recognized administration that represents Cyprus within the European Union.
At its core, the renewed dialogue reflects a fragile but meaningful step forward. While history weighs heavily on Cyprus, even small moments of honest conversation matter. Trust does not emerge overnight, but every sincere exchange brings the possibility that one day, division may give way to understanding and lasting peace.
