UN Chief’s Historic Visit to Cyprus: A Step Towards Peace

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has made a rare visit to Cyprus, a move that signals the international community’s commitment to resolving the island nation’s decades-old ethnic division.

During his visit, Guterres met with Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, with joint meetings scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. This visit marks the first time a UN chief has visited Cyprus in 16 years, and it comes at a time when renewed efforts are underway to resume formal peace talks.

The last major push for peace, which Guterres mediated in 2017, collapsed due to recriminations over who and what was to blame for the impasse. However, the UN chief remains optimistic, stating that he will do everything in his power to support the Greek and Turkish Cypriots in this crucial moment.

A Cyprus peace deal would have a profoundly positive impact on the region, unlocking the eastern Mediterranean’s potential as a provider of natural gas for Europe and beyond. It would also ease tensions in a turbulent region with competing interests over energy, territory, and influence.

The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when a Turkish invasion prompted by an Athens-backed coup resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Turkish Cypriots declared independence in the island’s northern third in 1983, but it is only recognized by Turkey, which maintains a significant military presence on the island.

The international community has been working towards a solution to the Cyprus issue for decades. A UN-endorsed outline of a deal in the form of a federated Cyprus made up of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot-administered zones has been in place for years, but time has hardened each side’s position, driving them further apart.

Turkish Cypriots have expressed concerns that the majority Greek Cypriots refuse to equally share power even under a federal deal. Earlier this month, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz reiterated Ankara’s support for a two-state accord, which would grant international recognition to the breakaway Turkish Cypriots. Greek Cypriots, however, have stated that they would never accept a two-state deal that would formally partition the island and entrench a Turkish military presence.

Guterres’ visit has been seen as a positive development, with Cyprus government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis stating that the fact that the UN chief has devoted his personal time to the visit signals that there can be progress. The UN chief’s successor may have a better chance of making progress if a formal start to peace talks is declared, involving top diplomats from Cyprus’ guarantors – Greece, Turkey, and Britain.

The UN Secretary-General’s visit to Cyprus is a crucial step towards resolving the island nation’s ethnic division. With renewed efforts underway, it remains to be seen whether a lasting peace deal can be reached, but one thing is certain – the international community is committed to finding a solution to this decades-old conflict.