Guterres to visit Cyprus in late July, first UN chief since 2010

Politics Antonio GuterresCyprus problemNikos ChristodoulidesTop NewsUnited Nations Guterres to visit Cyprus in late July, first UN chief since 2010 Antonio Guterres Calls On Israel To Cease Military Operations In West Bank Relevant News Guterres to visit Cyprus in late July, first UN chief since 2010 16 July 2026 Key witness Andreou testifies today in Zavrantonas cocaine retrial 16 July 2026 Justice Minister targets sick leave abuse with new bill 16 July 2026 newsroom 16 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Guterres to visit Cyprus in late July, first UN chief since 2010 UN Secretary-General António Guterres is coming to Cyprus in person in an effort to break the deadlock and push the Cyprus problem towards a resumption of talks. President Nikos Christodoulides said yesterday that significant news on the Cyprus problem would emerge in the immediate period ahead. Early this morning, the Cyprus News Agency reported that the UN chief may visit Nicosia in late July. Philenews has learned that Guterres’s visit to the island has already been locked in, with only the exact date still to be determined. The visit would mark a milestone for efforts on the Cyprus problem, as it would be the first by a UN Secretary-General since 2010. His decision to visit and meet the two leaders ties into an effort he has pursued for several months to restart the Cyprus problem talks. Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP, Khassim Diagne, will brief the UN Security Council today at 15:00 local time (22:00 Cyprus time) in closed consultations. Diagne’s briefing will focus on the Secretary-General’s two most recent reports on his Good Offices mission and UNFICYP. More visits follow Guterres will not be the only visitor to the island in the immediate period ahead over the Cyprus problem. Visits from the European Union side are also expected soon, and the new European Commission envoy, Raffaele Fitto, is already preparing his programme of contacts in Cyprus and the wider region. Visits that left their mark A UN Secretary-General’s visit to Cyprus has never been a routine occasion. Each one has left its own mark on efforts to resume talks. The last UN Secretary-General to set foot in Cyprus was Ban Ki-moon, who came to the island on January 31, 2010, and held meetings with former President Demetris Christofias and then Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu. Ban Ki-moon’s visit aimed to accelerate talks on the Cyprus problem. Demetris Christofias, Ban Ki Moon and Dervis Eroglu Before Ban, visits by UN Secretaries-General left a significant mark on the history of the Cyprus problem, leaving behind important documents. As UN Secretary-General, Kurt Waldheim made four visits to the island in total, two of them before the events of 1974. His third visit came in August 1974, days after the completion of the second phase of the Turkish invasion. The most significant of his four visits came in 1979, when Kyprianou and Denktash reached the ten-point agreement bearing their names, which, among other things, reaffirmed the previous 1977 High-Level Agreement between Makarios and Denktash, and added a provision for the demilitarisation of the island and the avoidance of destabilising actions. Kofi Annan’s visits were equally decisive for the history of the Cyprus problem. Between May 14-16, 2002, Annan came to the island and held both separate and joint meetings with former President Glafkos Clerides and former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. Koffi Annan and Glafcos Clerides Six months later, in November 2002, the first text of the Annan Plan was presented to both sides. Kofi Annan returned to the island immediately after the 2003 presidential election and the election of Tassos Papadopoulos as President. He also visited Turkey and Greece around the same time. Tassos Papadopoulos and Koffi Annan On February 26, 2003, he presented the third version of his plan. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Key witness Andreou testifies today in Zavrantonas cocaine retrial Justice Minister targets sick leave abuse with new bill Police seize weapons and ammunition from Larnaca house, suspect wanted Two vehicles catch fire after three-car crash outside Nicosia hospital Police arrest ten, fine 452 drivers in overnight crackdown Police arrest two more suspects over Xylophagou brawl Cyprus Police consider blocking radar-warning apps after EU Court ruling Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.