Geneva Summit on the Cyprus Issue Concludes: Key Takeaways

The informal “5+1” meeting on the Cyprus issue, hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Geneva, has come to an end. Over two days of discussions, both sides reached agreements on several confidence-building measures aimed at fostering trust and cooperation on the island. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for July.

In a brief statement following the March summit, Guterres emphasized the constructive atmosphere of the talks, noting that both parties remain committed to moving forward.

“Today, we have made significant progress,” he stated.

Guterres reaffirmed his long-standing dedication to promoting the security and well-being of both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. He described the Geneva summit as yet another effort to break the deadlock in the ongoing Cyprus dispute.

The UN Secretary-General also outlined the agreements reached during the talks. Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and Greek Cypriot administration president Nikos Christodoulides agreed to collaborate on several key initiatives, including:

Opening four new crossing points
Clearing landmines in designated areas
Establishing a Youth Technical Committee
Launching environmental initiatives and forming a Climate Change Committee
Developing a solar energy system in the buffer zone
Restoring cemeteries

Guterres stressed that these agreements mark an important step toward lasting peace and strengthened trust on the island.

The next round of talks will take place at the end of July, with both sides expected to take further decisive steps to reinforce confidence-building measures. Guterres also announced his plans to appoint a new personal representative to Cyprus to help coordinate the next phase of the process.