Greece’s Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue following an informal meeting on the Cyprus issue held in Geneva. Discussions focused on confidence-building measures, including demining, environmental protection, youth initiatives, and cemetery restoration. The appointment of a UN personal envoy to oversee the next steps was also decided.
Despite the divergence in the Turkish Cypriot stance from UN Security Council resolutions, Gerapetritis stressed that dialogue remains essential for fostering trust. Informal talks will continue bilaterally and in a broader format, with the next round scheduled for July.
The Cyprus issue has remained unresolved since 1974, following a Greek-backed coup and Turkey’s military intervention. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was declared in 1983, but negotiations for a solution have repeatedly stalled, including a failed 2017 initiative in Crans-Montana. The Greek Cypriot administration joined the EU in 2004 after rejecting a UN peace plan in a referendum.
