UN experts draft Cyprus convergence document as Guterres keeps talks alive despite friction

Politics Cyprus problemTop NewsunUNFICYP UN experts draft Cyprus convergence document as Guterres keeps talks alive despite friction Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας – Γενικό Relevant News UN experts draft Cyprus convergence document as Guterres keeps talks alive despite friction 2 August 2026 Inland temperatures to hit 40°C on Sunday with clear skies across Cyprus 2 August 2026 Car destroyed and wild vegetation scorched after early morning vehicle fire in Paphos 2 August 2026 Costas Venizelos 2 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber UN experts are drafting a foundational document compiling all agreed convergences on the Cyprus problem to serve as the backbone for future negotiations. The team, led by Canadian expert Dr McGarry and including former UN officials, is creating a framework to push the stalled peace process forward. Sources said the document is not a formal peace plan but will eventually be reviewed by an EU team to ensure all provisions align with the bloc’s legal framework. The initiative follows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ recent visit to the island, which kept the peace process on track despite structural obstacles from the Turkish side. During his meetings in Nicosia, Guterres reinforced the UN framework, calling for a federal state, adherence to the EU acquis, and the “singles” representing one sovereignty, one citizenship, and one international personality. Discussions also entered substantive issues, touching upon a decentralised federation and federal competencies. Ankara maintained a tactically restrained approach during the visit, avoiding an outright rejection because no immediate breakthrough or date for an informal five-power conference was expected. Sources said telephone calls between Guterres and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan helped prevent a collapse before Guterres arrived. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later stated that the issue in Cyprus is one of accepting the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people. EU-Turkey relations played a decisive role in restraining Ankara’s response. Turkey remains careful because Brussels and New York use EU-Turkey ties as leverage, and Ankara wants to keep its options open with the EU, despite knowing full membership is out of reach. The EU’s role is expected to shift from supportive to substantial if negotiations resume. Republic of Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides revealed that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered to set up a legal team to support the newly appointed EU Special Envoy for Cyprus, Raffaele Fitto. This team will check the compatibility of any agreement with the EU acquis, with officials noting that the EU will no longer tolerate the kind of deviations considered in 2004. While Nicosia hoped for more from the Guterres visit, officials are satisfied under the circumstances that the Secretary-General remains bound by UN resolutions. In contrast, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman carefully avoided defining the form of a solution, claiming he was not yet ready to do so. Behind the scenes, friction flared during a Tuesday dinner when Erhurman shocked attendees by walking out of the room for a cigarette while core issues were being debated. Sources said Guterres later rebuked Erhurman after the Turkish Cypriot leader repeatedly claimed that Turkey would not accept certain points, with the Secretary-General telling him that he speaks directly with Ankara and that Erhurman should focus on expressing his own views. Erhurman also backtracked the following day on a UN proposal accepted during the dinner to open checkpoints at Athienou-Aglantzia and Mia Milia. The Turkish Cypriot side also used Guterres’ visit to target the Republic of Cyprus’ prosecutions of people exploiting Greek Cypriot property in the north. Erhurman raised the case of Turkish Cypriot diplomat Yasa Yesilada, who was summoned by Cypriot police at a checkpoint for selling Greek Cypriot property to a German national in 2023. Erhurman warned that similar legal measures could be applied against Turkish properties in the south, though he noted he does not support this method. Cypriot authorities intend to continue prosecuting property exploiters regardless of the progress of peace talks, emphasising that illegal actions cannot be suspended and that the situation cannot be compared to Turkish Cypriot properties in the government-controlled areas. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Inland temperatures to hit 40°C on Sunday with clear skies across Cyprus Car destroyed and wild vegetation scorched after early morning vehicle fire in Paphos Teenager in serious condition following late-night Limassol crash Cyprus leads Europe on drinking water access but not on trust in tap water Fire crews tackle three Nicosia district blazes as huge plume of black smoke rises from Gerolakkos Israel kills two in Gaza and bombs hospital medicine warehouses as ceasefire deal stalls Fire crews tackle spate of wildfires along Prodromi to Arodes road as arson suspected Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.