By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres met Republic of Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman separately on July 28, 2026, as the UN sought to determine whether formal Cyprus negotiations suspended since 2017 could resume.
Guterres was also due to host the two leaders at a dinner in Nicosia later on Tuesday. Before that meeting, neither the United Nations nor the two sides had announced an agreement, a negotiating timetable or a date for a new formal process.
Christodoulides received Guterres at the Presidential Palace at 9 a.m., according to the Republic of Cyprus Presidency. Guterres later met Erhürman in a separate session.
The dinner was scheduled for 7 p.m. at the residence of the UN secretary-general's special representative in Cyprus and head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.
Differences remain over the basis and method of any renewed talks. The Greek Cypriot side supports negotiations under the established UN framework for a bicommunal, bizonal federation.
Erhürman has backed a settlement process but says any new round must safeguard political equality, preserve previous convergences and avoid another open-ended negotiation without agreed procedures.
He has also called for progress on practical issues affecting daily life across the island, including new crossing points and congestion at existing crossings. No agreement on those issues had been announced before the joint meeting.
The meetings did not amount to a formal resumption of negotiations.
Sources: United Nations, Republic of Cyprus Presidency, Turkish Cypriot Presidency, Bosphorus News review and reporting.