The conference that followed, convened by the UN Secretary-General in Crans-Montana, Switzerland (28 June – 7 July 2017), ended in a deadlock because of Turkey’s insistence on the permanent presence of military troops in Cyprus and on maintaining its invasive rights. On 27-29 April 2021, the UN Secretary General convened an informal 5+1 meeting on - lem. Sadly though, the refusal of Turkey and of the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community “two-states” as a precondition for the resumption of negotiations and their rejection of the Secretary General’s proposal for the appointment of a Special Envoy, led the effort to a deadlock. In addition, Turkey proceeded with the creation of new faits accomplis in the occupied areas of Cyprus, announcing further illegal actions in Varosha, the fenced-off area of Ammochostos. These actions were condemned by the Security Council which issued a Presidential Declaration on 23 July 2021, calling for the immediate reversal of all illegal actions and for full respect of the relevant UN resolutions, including the transfer of Varosha to UN administration. The UN Secretary General’s commitment to the resumption of a meaningful negotiation process, that will lead to a mutually acceptable solution within the UN framework, was reflected in the appointment of Ms Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar as his Personal Envoy, as well as in his initiative to convene an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format, which was held on 17-18 March 2025, in Geneva. Since November 2025, meetings have been held between the President of the Republic, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr Tufan Erhürman. The aim of these meetings is to create, step by step, the necessary conditions to be able to resume substantive negotiations with real content and prospects that will deliver tangible results. Keeping open and honest channels of communication serves the goal of resuming direct talks to solve the Cyprus issue on the agreed basis of a bicommunal and bizonal federation with political equality. The ongoing initiatives undertaken by President Christodoulides, as well as the constructive proposals he is putting forward, are part and parcel of this approach, which demonstrates in practice the unwavering will of the Republic of Cyprus to create a positive atmosphere for the resumption of meaningful negotiations.
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