Guterres holds Cyprus talks in Antalya as new trilateral meeting looms

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the Cyprus issue with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the COP31 Climate Summit in Antalya, then spoke by telephone with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides. The discussions focused on the outcomes of the 9 November trilateral meeting and the next steps in the diplomatic process.

Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications confirmed that the Cyprus issue was discussed during the Erdoğan–Guterres meeting. According to reports in the Greek Cypriot press, Guterres briefed Christodoulides on his conversation with Erdoğan. The telephone call, which took place at the Secretary-General’s request, was held while Christodoulides was changing planes in Rhodes on his way to Antalya.

Option of a new meeting before the end of November

According to information attributed to a Greek Cypriot official source, concrete dates are being considered for a new trilateral meeting involving Guterres, President Tufan Erhürman and Christodoulides before the end of November. Europe is reportedly the leading option for the venue, but no date has been confirmed.

According to the same information, if sufficient progress is made at the new trilateral meeting, an expanded 5+1 meeting could also be considered for the middle or end of December. The two Cypriot sides, as well as Türkiye, Greece and the UK, are expected to attend such a meeting.

Agreement on crossings, differences over approach

Greek Cypriot Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said Guterres considered the outcomes of the 9 November meeting substantive. The parties had agreed to open the Akıncılar–Limya and Kambo–Gemikonağı crossings simultaneously, and to cooperate on education, the environment, cultural heritage and crisis management.

However, no agreement was reached on the Haspolat and Athienou (Kiracıköy)–Gaziler–Eğlence crossings. Differences also persist over the negotiating methodology and political equality.

Erhürman and Christodoulides arrived in Antalya on the evening of 10 November. No announced programme indicates that a further meeting between the two leaders will take place on the sidelines of the summit. Letymbiotis also said Christodoulides had no pre-arranged meeting with Erdoğan or Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.