Cyprus Problem Today
Essence of the Problem
Cyprus remains a divided island. The northern part (36.2%) has been occupied by Turkey since 1974. The international community does not recognize this division.
Negotiations under the Auspices of the UN
All negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus are conducted under the auspices of the UN.
❓ Under whose leadership are the negotiations on the Cyprus problem conducted? → UN
Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General
María Ángela Holguín (Colombia) — appointed by Secretary-General António Guterres in January 2024 and reappointed in May 2025; coordinates the negotiation process on the reunification of Cyprus.
UN Special Representative in Cyprus
Khassim Diagne — hosts the Christodoulides–Erhürman meetings in the buffer zone.
EU Special Representative for the Cyprus problem
Raffaele Fitto (Ραφαέλε Φίτο, Italy), Executive Vice-President of the European Commission — appointed by the Commission on 13 July 2026. He supports the UN-led process together with María Ángela Holguín. The previous Commission envoy, Johannes Hahn, had resigned.
UN Secretary-General in Cyprus (27–29 July 2026)
António Guterres visited Cyprus — the first visit by a UN Secretary-General since 2010. On 28 July he hosted a dinner for Christodoulides and Erhürman in the buffer zone; on 29 July the three met at the old Nicosia airport. Outcome: he will convene another 5+1 meeting "after adequate preparations" on confidence-building, methodology and substance. No date was set (as of 30 September 2026, no 5+1 meeting had taken place).
Negotiation format: 5+1
Talks are held in the 5+1 format: Cyprus, Northern Cyprus, the three guarantor states (Greece, Turkey, the United Kingdom) and the UN.
Current state of negotiations (2025–2026)
Tufan Erhürman — new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community
19 October 2025 — Tufan Erhürman (Republican Turkish Party) defeated incumbent Ersin Tatar 62.76% vs 35.81% in the Turkish Cypriot leadership election. Erhürman supports the resumption of negotiations on reunification (Tatar had backed a "two-state solution").
Christodoulides–Erhürman meetings
| Date | Where | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| 11 December 2025 | Buffer zone, Nicosia (UN auspices) | First full meeting. Agreed on halloumi PDO exports, more staff at crossings, road widening at Agios Dometios |
| 24 February 2026 | UN auspices | "Keep the channel of communication open"; discussion of crossing points and an expanded 5+1 conference |
| 6 April 2026 | UN Special Representative's residence in the buffer zone | Described as "productive"; negotiators tasked with advancing the new crossing points |
| 8 May 2026 | Buffer zone near Nicosia airport (tête-à-tête, no media) | CBMs and tensions in the buffer zone (incl. Pyla); awaiting an early announcement of an expanded 5+1 meeting |
| 29 July 2026 | Old Nicosia airport, with UN Secretary-General Guterres | Guterres will convene a new 5+1 meeting after adequate preparation; no date |
| 26 August 2026 | UN Protected Area, Nicosia | Longest meeting so far; agreed to meet once a week; a civil-society consultative body set up |
| 9 and 17 September 2026 | Hosted by the UN Good Offices Mission | Christodoulides tabled 19 points on methodology, substance and CBMs |
Confidence-building measures in progress
- 16 April 2026 — Inspections of halloumi producers in the Turkish Cypriot community began for PDO export across the Green Line into the EU.
- 13 February 2026 — Erhürman insisted that the convergences reached at Crans-Montana (2017) be preserved as the basis for any future negotiations.
UNFICYP
Full name: United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
When established: 1964
Tasks:
- Patrolling the buffer zone
- Preventing incidents
- Humanitarian assistance
Headquarters: Nicosia
“TRNC” — Unrecognized Entity
In 1983, the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) was proclaimed in the occupied territory.
Key fact: The “TRNC” is recognized by no country in the world except Turkey.
This means:
- No international flights directly to the north
- No embassies of other countries
- Economic isolation
Attempts at Unification
Annan Plan (2004)
What: UN plan for the reunification of Cyprus
Referendum: 24 April 2004
Result:
- Greek Cypriots: 76% against
- Turkish Cypriots: 65% in favor
The plan was not adopted.
Negotiations in Crans-Montana (2017)
The last major attempt at negotiations. It did not lead to an agreement.
Milestones: UN resolutions and agreements
The official basis for talks: UN Security Council resolutions + the two High-Level Agreements (1977, 1979).
| Date | What | Greek name | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar 1964 | UNSC resolution 186 | Ψήφισμα 186 | Created UNFICYP and the UN Secretary-General's good offices |
| 20 Jul 1974 | UNSC resolution 353 | Ψήφισμα 353 | Ceasefire, end of foreign military intervention |
| 14–16 Aug 1974 | Second phase of the invasion | Β΄ φάση της εισβολής | Morphou and Famagusta occupied |
| 1 Nov 1974 | UN General Assembly resolution 3212 (unanimous, incl. Turkey) | Ψήφισμα 3212 της Γενικής Συνέλευσης | Withdrawal of foreign troops, return of refugees |
| 12 Feb 1977 | 1st High-Level Agreement: President Makarios – Rauf Denktash | Συμφωνία Υψηλού Επιπέδου (1977) | Independent, non-aligned, bicommunal federal republic |
| 3 Aug 1977 | Death of Makarios; successor Spyros Kyprianou | Σπύρος Κυπριανού | — |
| 19 May 1979 | 2nd High-Level Agreement (10 points): President Spyros Kyprianou – Rauf Denktash | Συμφωνία Υψηλού Επιπέδου (1979) | Human rights, demilitarisation; priority to the return of Famagusta (Varosha) to its inhabitants |
| 15 Nov 1983 | Declaration of the pseudo-state ("TRNC") | Ανακήρυξη του ψευδοκράτους | — |
| 18 Nov 1983 | UNSC resolution 541 | Ψήφισμα 541 | Declaration legally invalid, must be withdrawn; no state to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus |
| 1984 | UNSC resolution 550 | Ψήφισμα 550 | Reaffirms 541; no recognition or help to the entity; Varosha only for its lawful inhabitants, under UN administration |
| 24 Apr 2004 | Separate referendums on the Annan Plan | Δημοψήφισμα για το σχέδιο Ανάν | Greek Cypriots 75.8 % No; Turkish Cypriots 64.9 % Yes → plan fails |
| 28 Jun – 7 Jul 2017 | Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana, Switzerland | Διάσκεψη του Κραν-Μοντανά (Ελβετία) | Ended without result (Turkey insisted on guarantees and troops) |
❓ Who signed the High-Level Agreements? → 1977: Makarios – Denktash; 1979: Kyprianou – Denktash
❓ What did resolution 541 (1983) say? → The declaration of the pseudo-state is legally invalid
Crossing Points
Since 2003, it has been possible to cross the dividing line through official checkpoints:
| Checkpoint | Where | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ledra Street | Nicosia | Pedestrian |
| Ledra Palace | Nicosia | Car + pedestrian |
| Agios Dometios (Metehan) | Nicosia | Car |
| Astromeritis – Zodeia | West of Nicosia | Car |
| Lefka – Aplici | West (opened 12 Nov 2018) | Car |
| Kato Pyrgos – Limnitis | North-west (Tillyria) | Car |
| Deryneia | East, near Famagusta (opened 12 Nov 2018) | Car |
| Pergamos | British Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia | Car |
| Strovilia | British Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia | Car |
Two crossings — Pergamos and Strovilia — lie inside the British base of Dhekelia (source: UNFICYP).
Important: When crossing, your documents may be checked. Entry into the occupied territory via the ports and airports in the north is illegal from the point of view of the Republic of Cyprus.
Proposed new crossings (under discussion 2025–2026)
Since the enlarged meeting in Geneva (March 2025) the formula has been to open 4 new crossings at once:
- a road between Athienou and the Nicosia suburb of Aglandjia (via Pyroi), with a crossing at each end (2 crossings; Greek Cypriot proposal)
- Mia Milia (eastern Nicosia; Turkish Cypriot proposal)
- Louroujina (Λουρουτζίνα, north of Larnaca; Turkish Cypriot proposal)
A transit road through Kokkina has also been discussed separately.
The Turkish side blocked the Athienou–Aglandjia route in April 2026, citing consultations with the Turkish military. At the meeting with Guterres (29 July 2026) the Greek Cypriot side proposed opening Athienou–Aglandjia and Mia Milia first and leaving Louroujina for later; the Turkish Cypriot side refused to split the package. No new crossing had opened by 30 September 2026.
Turkish Troops in Cyprus
In the occupied territory there are ~43,000 Turkish soldiers — one of the highest concentrations of troops in the world relative to the population.
Position of the International Community
| Organization | Position |
|---|---|
| UN | Resolutions demand withdrawal of troops |
| EU | EU territory, but the acquis is not applied in the north |
| USA | Supports negotiations, against partition |
| Russia | Supports territorial integrity |
What to Remember
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Under whose auspices are the negotiations | UN |
| Negotiation format | 5+1 |
| UN Personal Envoy | María Ángela Holguín (Colombia) |
| UN Special Representative in Cyprus | Khassim Diagne |
| EU (Commission) Special Representative | Raffaele Fitto (since 13 July 2026) |
| UN Secretary-General's visit | 27–29 July 2026, the first since 2010; a new 5+1 promised "after adequate preparations" |
| Turkish Cypriot leader (since Oct 2025) | Tufan Erhürman |
| Christodoulides–Erhürman meetings | 11 Dec 2025, 24 Feb, 6 Apr, 8 May, 29 Jul (with Guterres), 26 Aug (weekly from then), 9 and 17 Sep 2026 |
| Proposed new crossings (2025–2026) | Athienou–Aglandjia road (a crossing at each end), Mia Milia, Louroujina — none opened by 30 Sep 2026 |
| Peacekeepers | UNFICYP, since 1964 |
| Who recognizes the “TRNC” | Only Turkey |
| Annan Plan | 2004, rejected by Greek Cypriots |
| Is it possible to cross the line | Yes, through checkpoints |