Leaders from both sides of Cyprus met a top UN envoy on Thursday. This was the first meeting of its kind in six years. The goal was to find ways to restart reunification talks. The meeting happened at the old Nicosia airport. This place is in the buffer zone between the two communities.
President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman talked for a long time. María Angela Holguín Cuéllar, a UN envoy, led the discussion. It lasted almost three and a half hours. This was an important meeting. It was the best high-level contact since talks failed in 2017. Cyprus has been divided since 1974.
Before the main talks, the leaders visited a lab for missing persons. This showed the sad human side of the conflict. The UN said they agreed to work towards a solution. This solution would be a federation with two zones and two communities. It also means political equality for both sides. This plan follows UN rules.
The leaders also agreed to speed up confidence-building steps. These steps aim to build trust. They will work on missing persons and the Halloumi cheese issue. They will also improve staffing at crossing points. However, a plan for a new pedestrian crossing was not agreed. This shows there are still disagreements.
The UN envoy is important for this progress. She will meet with officials from Greece and Turkey. This is to prepare for a larger meeting. This meeting will include Greece, Turkey, and the UK. It will also include both Cypriot sides.
President Christodoulides is hopeful. He is ready to make proposals to restart talks. The UN said these steps are not a final solution. The leaders will meet again if needed. Their teams will stay in touch. This starts a new, but fragile, period of dialogue.