Cyprus Leaders Meet to Restart Long-Stalled U.N. Peace Talks

The leaders of Cyprus’s divided communities have signaled that they are ready to restart long-stalled peace talks under the United Nations, raising hopes for progress on the decades-old conflict.

On Thursday, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides met with Tufan Erhurman, the Turkish Cypriot leader, in their first face-to-face encounter since Erhurman’s landslide victory in the October presidential election in the breakaway Turkish Cypriot region. Both leaders agreed that dialogue with the United Nations is the key next step toward resolving the island’s political and ethnic divisions.

Erhurman, a center-left moderate, emphasized his commitment to reviving U.N.-led negotiations, saying that constructive dialogue is essential to achieving a lasting solution. Christodoulides also expressed willingness to engage in talks, signaling a shared interest in exploring ways to reunify the island peacefully.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following a Turkish military intervention triggered by a Greek-backed coup. The island is split between the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south and the self-declared Turkish Cypriot north, which is recognized only by Turkey. Over the years, multiple rounds of peace talks have failed, leaving the division unresolved and a source of tension in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The United Nations has welcomed the leaders’ meeting and their readiness to discuss restarting formal negotiations. U.N. officials said that such dialogue could create an opportunity to address core issues including governance, security arrangements, territorial boundaries, and the return of displaced people.

Both leaders acknowledged that there are significant challenges ahead, but the meeting represents a cautious step forward. Observers note that successful talks would require compromise from both sides and strong support from the international community.

Analysts say renewed peace talks could not only improve Cyprus’s internal stability but also strengthen regional cooperation and reduce tensions between Greece and Turkey, both of which are deeply involved in the island’s politics.

As a next step, the leaders are expected to engage with the U.N. Secretary-General to discuss a framework for resuming the negotiations. This development has raised hopes among Cypriots and international diplomats that a long-awaited breakthrough may finally be possible