- Title: UN chief hails 'meaningful progress' in Cyprus talks
- Date: 18th March 2025
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (MARCH 18, 2025) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETRAY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, ANTONIO GUTERRES, SAYING: “We agreed to have in this format the next meeting end of July and I will appoint a personal envoy to prepare the next steps.” VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER, ERSIN TATAR, SAYING: “My si
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Cyprus Greek Guterres Turk United Nations talks
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Cyprus
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,United Nations
- Reuters ID: LVA006982418032025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday (March 18) that talks on the future of Cyprus held in Geneva this week had made progress for the first time in years, agreeing a series of joint initiatives including the opening of crossing points.
"Discussions were held in a constructive atmosphere with both sides showing clear commitment to making progress and continuing dialog," Guterres told reporters at the end of the two-day meeting at the U.N. in Geneva.
He announced new confidence-building measures between the two sides which included opening the four crossing points; demining; the creation of a new committee on youth affairs; environmental initiatives; solar energy projects in the buffer zone; and the restoration of cemeteries.
The two sides agreed to another meeting at the end of July and to a new UN special envoy, Guterres said.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said on Tuesday that talks in Geneva on Cyprus were positive, and that he hopes to open a new page on a sustainable future for the island.
The remarks followed two days of talks hosted by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to discuss the future of the island, with Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, and representatives from Greece, Turkey and Britain.
The talks agreed on a number of points, including the proposal by Guterres of a personal envoy, the opening of four crossing points, and a focus on de-mining.
Tartar confirmed that Turkish Cypriot officials will attend talks in July. He hoped one of the topics to be put on the table could be the construction of an electricity cable from Turkey to northern Cyprus.
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