UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes some progress may be possible during the informal Cyprus conference scheduled for March in Geneva, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the matter.
Sources who spoke to philenews indicate that Guterres has emphasised the Cyprus issue in discussions with foreign officials, including during his recent meeting with the Greek Foreign Minister.
These sources reveal that while the UN Secretary-General anticipates some advancement during the Geneva meeting, he does not expect a decisive breakthrough.
The United Nations team appears focused on achieving even modest results that could sustain the diplomatic process and provide grounds for future engagement.
This approach reflects a pragmatic assessment of the current political landscape surrounding the Cyprus issue.
The Foreign Ministers of Cyprus and Greece held a telephone conversation on Wednesday during which Greece’s George Gerapetritis briefed Cyprus’ Constantinos Kombos on his meeting with Antonio Guterres.
According to official sources, the ministers also discussed United Nations Security Council and General Assembly proceedings alongside the Greek Foreign Minister’s meeting with the UN Secretary-General.
In statements to correspondents in New York following his meeting with Guterres, the Greek Foreign Minister confirmed that the Cyprus issue was discussed in preparation for the upcoming expanded meeting.
“We had a very extensive discussion, which included, among other things, the Cyprus issue and the upcoming expanded meeting that we will have in the near future,” he stated.
Meanwhile, little progress appears to be occurring on the ground in Cyprus beyond daily statements from Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, who maintains a negative strategic stance while seemingly hoping for concessions from the UN.
The most recent meeting between negotiators yielded no significant developments. However, in the Turkish-occupied territory, Tatar has recently renewed focus on the issue of crossing points, insisting on opening a passage at Mia Milia.
Tatar specified that the proposed crossing point at Mia Milia would be for commercial vehicles, including taxis.
He suggested that mutual passage of products and materials traded under the Green Line Regulation would reduce traffic congestion at Agios Dometios and increase commerce.
