UN chief’s crossing points compromise splits Christodoulides and Erhürman

Politics Cyprus problemTop Newsturkeyun UN chief’s crossing points compromise splits Christodoulides and Erhürman Guterres Cyprus Problem Un Relevant News UN chief’s crossing points compromise splits Christodoulides and Erhürman 29 July 2026 As AI reshapes newsrooms, leading media outlets are charting different paths for its use 29 July 2026 Wildfire threat moving east, threatening Italy and Greece, EU says 29 July 2026 Andreas Bimbishis 29 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber UN Secretary-General António Guterres presented a compromise proposal on opening crossing points at today’s joint meeting with the two Cypriot leaders, sources familiar with the talks told philenews. The UN chief proposed the simultaneous opening of the Mia Milia and Athienou crossing points, according to the sources. The proposal is essentially a slightly modified version of one put forward a year ago in New York, differing on the road from Athienou to the Aglatzia area. The proposal for that road would involve only two checkpoints, instead of the three requested by the Turkish Cypriot side. According to the same sources, the two leaders gave differing responses today to what Guterres himself called a “reasonable compromise.” President Nikos Christodoulides agreed with the proposal and said he was ready for the Secretary-General to announce it even today, during the press conference. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman was negative on the Guterres proposal. Christodoulides’ proposals Sources familiar with the background of yesterday’s and today’s talks told philenews that President Christodoulides had proposed, at Tuesday’s meeting with the UN Secretary-General, that measures on the missing persons issue be included, so that the Committee on Missing Persons could gain access to more sites for excavation as well as access to Turkish army archives, to allow the missing persons issue to be fully investigated. The issue was also discussed during today’s meeting of the three, with the Secretary-General noting the proposal and responding positively. Christodoulides’ second proposal, raised in his one-on-one meeting with the UN Secretary-General, concerned Turkey. He put forward goodwill initiatives or steps of mutual benefit between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey. According to the Christodoulides proposal, these steps could take place through a mutual approach between the two countries. This is not, however, a matter the UN Secretary-General himself could take a position on or convey to the Turkish side. Philenews understands that Mehmet Kemal Bozay’s visit to the occupied north was not incidental, but had a specific purpose: to prevent moves that might call Ankara’s plans into question. Bozay is Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister. The phone call that changed the outcome What determined today’s outcome, and the Secretary-General’s announcement that all parties agree to proceed with preparations for an informal five-party meeting, was Guterres’ own personal intervention with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. A phone call between the Secretary-General and the Turkish foreign minister proved decisive, coming two days after María Ángela Holguín’s trip to Ankara. The UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy, despite meeting Fidan last Friday, had not secured a positive response. By contrast, in his own call with Fidan, Guterres secured a positive response, allowing him to proceed with today’s announcements on continuing his own effort on the Cyprus problem. Diplomatic sources noted that, at this stage, Guterres got the “OK” from Fidan to proceed, but that matters have not yet moved in that direction. Sources familiar with the background of the discussions said Turkey has now given its consent for preparations to begin on an expanded meeting. The Secretary-General made clear to his interlocutors that the next 5+1 meeting must be successful. Guterres made clear that he wants to attend that meeting in person and announce the resumption of talks. No fresh ideas on the table Another notable element from Guterres’ contacts on the island is that the Secretary-General did not present or discuss any “new ideas,” or anything published in recent months in Cypriot, Turkish or British media. Discussions will proceed on the parameters of the known Guterres framework, without that framework itself serving as the reference point. A source present during the last two days of discussions told philenews that the Secretary-General’s stated goal is to have a framework for resuming talks by the time he attends the five-party meeting. In any case, given known Turkish objections, the framework will not be “named” and will not carry Guterres’ name or anything similar. The text will include the convergences reached so far, or, as it was characteristically described to philenews, the divergences arising from them — meaning the points of disagreement where no convergence has been reached. Read more: Guterres commits to fresh five-plus-one meeting after Cyprus visit Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News As AI reshapes newsrooms, leading media outlets are charting different paths for its use Wildfire threat moving east, threatening Italy and Greece, EU says Norwegian teen found guilty in UK murder plot tied to Iran-linked group The ten best short novels under 150 pages – chosen by experts Our own Odyssey: The journey back to ourselves Bird Aviation signs seven-year base maintenance deal with easyJet Half of England declared in drought Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.