UN Report praises Greece and Turkey, says Support ‘Critical’ for Cyprus

“The guarantor powers of Greece and Turkey continued to improve relations at various levels, including through regular meetings at the leadership level. The two capitals have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen their relationship,” he said.

He added, “this rapprochement is encouraging, as their constructive support to the peace process is critical in the context of the Cyprus issue”.

Later in the report, he also wrote that he “commends the governments of Greece and Turkey for their steadfast commitment to the promotion of peaceful neighbourly relations”.

“The commitment to pursuing channels of communication, despite longstanding disagreements on certain issues, also serves as an example for the Cyprus peace process.

“Considering the important role and responsibility that the guarantor powers Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom have in the Cyprus context, I encourage all of them to continue to urge the two leaders in Cyprus to engage in dialogue and seek a mutually acceptable way forward with the required political will, creativity, and openness to compromise,” he said.

Outside of the progress shown in Ankara and Athens, Guterres passed comment on the informal dinner held between President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in October, saying it was “welcomed on both sides of the island and raised hope amongst Cypriots that progress could be made”.

“The prospect of opening new crossing points has also been welcomed in both communities. Furthermore, the upcoming informal meeting in a broader format involving the guarantor powers has brought renewed focus on the peace process and has sparked public debate and speculation regarding the substantive aspects of the Cyprus issue,” he said.

Elsewhere in the report, he also wrote that he “encourages the two sides to demonstrate a spirit of cooperation with respect to the discussions related to the crossing points, as an agreement on this issue would be a meaningful signal of political will ahead of any broader format meeting”.

“To this end, as agreed in October, I also encourage the leaders to meet in Cyprus to explore the possibility of opening new crossings at an opportune time,” he added.

He pointed out that “the increase in the number of crossings combined with chronic delays has led to constant, yet avoidable long waiting times impacting regular commuters, workers, students, and efforts to trade between the two sides.

“I encourage the two leaders to conclude an agreement on crossing points without delay. In addition, the work progressing under the technical committee on crossings to expand and improve the Ayios Dhometios crossing point, representing a majority of traffic between the two sides, is encouraging.”

He also noted that the amount of trade between the two sides through the Green Line Regulation slightly dropped in 2024 to €13 million.

Outside of those matters, he said the Religious Track of the Cyprus peace process facilitated two pilgrimages of Turkish Cypriots in 2024 to the Hala Sultan Tekkesi in Larnaca for both Eid al-Adha and for Mawlid, with a total of 1,150 pilgrims making the journey.

He also said discussions continued regarding the potential creation of a joint solar power plant in the buffer zone.

“A pre-feasibility study presented earlier envisaged a photovoltaic plant with the financial support from the European Union if the project were to be agreed. Such a power plant would contribute to increased intra-island cooperation in the energy sector, bolster the green transition on both sides, and pave the way for other solar power projects across the island,” he said.

He also noted that in total, around 100 meetings were conducted across the various bicommunal technical committees, and that despite the north’s withdrawal from the technical committee on education’s “Imagine” peace education project, it is now implemented by civil society organisations.

Both Nikos Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar also wrote pieces for the report, with Christodoulides writing that at the October 15 meeting, he had expressed support for the establishment of a truth commission, but that Tatar had rejected this and other proposals.

He also expressed his support for the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), pointing out his joint visit with Tatar to the CMP’s anthropological laboratory in July.

Tatar said the last six months “witnessed many ups and downs”, and criticised the arrest and detention of Israeli property developer Simon Mistriel Aykut in the Republic.

He was also clear that “no common ground exists between the two sides”, though expressed his readiness to meet Christodoulides on the matter of crossing points.

On this, he reiterated his criticism of the Greek Cypriot side’s stance on the matter, saying it is the Greek Cypriot side’s aim to open what would effectively be transit roads connecting the Republic with other parts of the Republic.

Source: Cyprus Mail