Latest news with #GreekCypriots
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rival leaders in Cyprus will meet informally with UN chief this month
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres will bring the rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus together again this month following a 'constructive atmosphere' at an earlier meeting aimed at reviving stalled peace talks, the United Nations spokesman said Wednesday. Stéphane Dujarric said the informal meeting on July 16-17 at U.N. headquarters in New York 'will provide an opportunity to continue the dialogue and exchange views on the progress made since March.' At that meeting, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar agreed to trust-building measures on issues like energy, environment, opening four new crossing points along a U.N.-controlled buffer zone, youth affairs and demining. The Mediterranean island was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by Athens junta-backed supporters of uniting the island with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence, and it maintains more than 35,000 troops in the island's northern third. Negotiations between the rivals have been stalled since 2017. Maria Angela Holguin, a new envoy Guterres appointed, said at the end of her first weeklong visit to Cyprus in late May that Guterres 'continues to push' for a resumption of peace talks. But no breakthrough is expected at the meeting this month because Turkey and Turkish Cypriot insist on a two-state accord that Greek Cypriots flatly reject. The agreed-upon, U.N.-endorsed framework for a peace deal has been a reunified Cyprus as a federation composed of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot zones. Ever since his 2020 election, Tatar has been demanding a two-state deal. He faces reelection in October and says he's running on the same two-state platform with Ankara's full backing. Greek Cypriots say they won't agree to any accord that formally partitions the island, allows for a permanent Turkish troop presence, gives Turkey rights to militarily intervene or offers the minority Turkish Cypriots a veto right on all government decisions. Despite these differences, the rivals have made some progress on trust-building measures, which also include work on a photovoltaic park inside the buffer zone and restoration work on cemeteries on both sides of the divide.
The Hill
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Rival leaders in Cyprus will meet informally with UN chief this month
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres will bring the rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus together again this month following a 'constructive atmosphere' at an earlier meeting aimed at reviving stalled peace talks, the United Nations spokesman said Wednesday. Stéphane Dujarric said the informal meeting on July 16-17 at U.N. headquarters in New York 'will provide an opportunity to continue the dialogue and exchange views on the progress made since March.' At that meeting, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar agreed to trust-building measures on issues like energy, environment, opening four new crossing points along a U.N.-controlled buffer zone, youth affairs and demining. The Mediterranean island was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by Athens junta-backed supporters of uniting the island with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence, and it maintains more than 35,000 troops in the island's northern third. Negotiations between the rivals have been stalled since 2017. Maria Angela Holguin, a new envoy Guterres appointed, said at the end of her first weeklong visit to Cyprus in late May that Guterres 'continues to push' for a resumption of peace talks. But no breakthrough is expected at the meeting this month because Turkey and Turkish Cypriot insist on a two-state accord that Greek Cypriots flatly reject. The agreed-upon, U.N.-endorsed framework for a peace deal has been a reunified Cyprus as a federation composed of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot zones. Ever since his 2020 election, Tatar has been demanding a two-state deal. He faces reelection in October and says he's running on the same two-state platform with Ankara's full backing. Greek Cypriots say they won't agree to any accord that formally partitions the island, allows for a permanent Turkish troop presence, gives Turkey rights to militarily intervene or offers the minority Turkish Cypriots a veto right on all government decisions. Despite these differences, the rivals have made some progress on trust-building measures, which also include work on a photovoltaic park inside the buffer zone and restoration work on cemeteries on both sides of the divide. ___ AP writer Menelaos Hadjicostis contributed from Nicosia, Cyprus.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Rival leaders in Cyprus will meet informally with UN chief this month
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres will bring the rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus together again this month following a 'constructive atmosphere' at an earlier meeting aimed at reviving stalled peace talks, the United Nations spokesman said Wednesday. Stéphane Dujarric said the informal meeting on July 16-17 at U.N. headquarters in New York 'will provide an opportunity to continue the dialogue and exchange views on the progress made since March.' At that meeting, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar agreed to trust-building measures on issues like energy, environment, opening four new crossing points along a U.N.-controlled buffer zone, youth affairs and demining. The Mediterranean island was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by Athens junta-backed supporters of uniting the island with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence, and it maintains more than 35,000 troops in the island's northern third. Negotiations between the rivals have been stalled since 2017. Maria Angela Holguin, a new envoy Guterres appointed, said at the end of her first weeklong visit to Cyprus in late May that Guterres 'continues to push' for a resumption of peace talks. But no breakthrough is expected at the meeting this month because Turkey and Turkish Cypriot insist on a two-state accord that Greek Cypriots flatly reject. The agreed-upon, U.N.-endorsed framework for a peace deal has been a reunified Cyprus as a federation composed of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot zones. Ever since his 2020 election, Tatar has been demanding a two-state deal. He faces reelection in October and says he's running on the same two-state platform with Ankara's full backing. Greek Cypriots say they won't agree to any accord that formally partitions the island, allows for a permanent Turkish troop presence, gives Turkey rights to militarily intervene or offers the minority Turkish Cypriots a veto right on all government decisions. Despite these differences, the rivals have made some progress on trust-building measures, which also include work on a photovoltaic park inside the buffer zone and restoration work on cemeteries on both sides of the divide. ___ AP writer Menelaos Hadjicostis contributed from Nicosia, Cyprus.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Cyprus invites Turkiye's Erdogan to summit despite long rift over 1974 invasion
NICOSIA: Cyprus said on Monday it would invite arch-foe Turkiye to a summit during its European Union presidency next year despite a decades-long rift over Ankara's 1974 invasion and its backing of a breakaway state on the divided island. Nicosia will hold the rotating EU presidency in the first six months of 2026 and plans a summit of regional leaders, including Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, on issues related to the Middle East, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said. 'You can't change geography — Turkiye will always be a neighbor state to the Republic of Cyprus .. will of course be welcome to this summit to discuss developments in the area,' he told journalists in Nicosia. Christodoulides had earlier said the same in a British podcast aired on Monday in response to a question, saying the summit was planned for April 2026. The Turkish presidency did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the invitation to Erdogan. Cyprus and Turkiye have no diplomatic relations and hosting a Turkish president might prove challenging both because of the diplomatic tightrope arising from past conflict and logistical issues. The eastern Mediterranean island was partitioned by a Turkish invasion in 1974 sparked by a brief Greek-inspired coup, and Ankara supports a breakaway, unrecognized state in north Cyprus where it stations thousands of troops. Christodoulides heads a Greek Cypriot administration that represents all of Cyprus within the EU but with its powers stopping at a ceasefire line splitting the island into northern and southern sections. Erdogan has never visited the south.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Cyprus invites Turkey's Erdogan to summit despite long rift over 1974 invasion
NICOSIA, June 30 (Reuters) - Cyprus said on Monday it would invite arch-foe Turkey to a summit during its European Union presidency next year despite a decades-long rift over Ankara's 1974 invasion and its backing of a breakaway state on the divided island. Nicosia will hold the rotating EU presidency in the first six months of 2026 and plans a summit of regional leaders, including Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, on issues related to the Middle East, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said. "You can't change geography - Turkey will always be a neighbour state to the Republic of Cyprus .. Mr Erdogan will of course be welcome to this summit to discuss developments in the area," he told journalists in Nicosia. Christodoulides had earlier said the same in a British podcast aired on Monday in response to a question, saying the summit was planned for April 2026. The Turkish presidency did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the invitation to Erdogan. Cyprus and Turkey have no diplomatic relations and hosting a Turkish president might prove challenging both because of the diplomatic tightrope arising from past conflict and logistical issues. The eastern Mediterranean island was partitioned by a Turkish invasion in 1974 sparked by a brief Greek-inspired coup, and Ankara supports a breakaway, unrecognised state in north Cyprus where it stations thousands of troops. Christodoulides heads a Greek Cypriot administration that represents all of Cyprus within the EU but with its powers stopping at a ceasefire line splitting the island into northern and southern sections. Erdogan has never visited the south.
