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There\u2019s a positive \u201cnew atmosphere\u201d surrounding the discussions, Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Geneva after a second day of informal talks, the UN chief underscored his commitment to ensuring the security and well-being of the Cypriots – the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cfrom the very start of my mandate\u2026today was another attempt to find a way forward\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar, leader of the Turkish Cypriots, had gathered in Geneva along with guarantors Greece, T\u00fcrkiye and the United Kingdom at the request of the UN chief.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Tatar and Mr. Christodoulides have agreed the following group of initiatives to build trust,\u201d he said, listing \u201copening of the four crossing points, demining, creation of a technical committee on youth, initiatives on the environment and climate change including the impacts on mining areas; solar energy in the buffer zone and the restoration of cemeteries\u201d.<\/p>\n The UN has pushed for negotiations towards a settlement of the issues which led to the division of the island, with the Security Council authorising a UN peacekeeping force in 1964, UNFICYP.<\/p>\n In the absence of a permanent agreement, the force remains on the island to supervise ceasefire lines, a buffer zone and to support humanitarian activities.<\/p>\n Mr. Guterres attempted to\u00a0bring the two sides together\u00a0in 2017 at the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana but talks ultimately broke down. A\u00a0further push\u00a0was made in 2021.<\/p>\nCommon ground<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Previous push for progress<\/h2>\n