The Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Cyprus, Ms. María Ángela Holguín, together with the Head of UNFICYP, Mr. Khassim Diagne, welcomed the two Cypriot leaders, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides and Mr. Tufan Erhürman, to the United Nations Protected Area this morning for their first meeting of 2026. The statement issued on behalf of the Personal Envoy can be found here: Home | United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.
The meeting took place at the invitation of the Personal Envoy and formed part of ongoing efforts under the Secretary-General’s good offices. Ms. Holguín noted that direct dialogue between the leaders is essential to express views, concerns and expectations, particularly in the current pre-negotiation phase.
During their meeting, the leaders shared proposals on how to chart a way forward toward the start of substantive negotiations. They also reviewed the list of previously discussed trust-building initiatives and took note of progress achieved in certain areas.
The leaders agreed to continue efforts to reach understandings on the trust-building initiatives under discussion, alongside steps aimed at creating the conditions for the resumption of substantive negotiations.
The Secretary-General, in his last report on his mission of good offices (S/2026/9), said that he remained committed to maintaining contact and dialogue, in search of a path towards a peaceful settlement on the island. The Secretary-General welcomed the commitment shown in 2025 to sustain engagement, notwithstanding this being the longest gap in active negotiations in the history of the Cyprus peace process. The special political mission in Cyprus and the Secretary-General's own good offices continue to remain at the disposal of the parties to the Cyprus issue.
