UN Secretary-General António Guterres has arrived in Cyprus with a message of support for efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, while making clear that peace cannot be imposed by the international community.
In a post on X shortly after landing on the island late on Monday night, Guterres said he was in Cyprus to reaffirm his commitment to supporting both communities in their search for a comprehensive and sustainable settlement.
"I have just landed in Cyprus to express my commitment to support the Cypriot communities in their search for a comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the Cyprus issue. The UN cannot impose peace. Only Cypriots, through their leaders, can build it," he wrote.
I have just landed in Cyprus to express my commitment to support for Cypriot communities in the search for a comprehensive & sustainable settlement of the Cyprus issue.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) July 27, 2026
The @UN cannot impose peace.
Only Cypriots, through their leaders, can build it.
His remarks were widely interpreted as a reminder that while the United Nations can facilitate and support the process, responsibility for achieving progress ultimately rests with the two sides and their leaders.
Meetings with both leaders
During his stay in Cyprus, Guterres is expected to hold separate meetings with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, as well as joint engagements under UN auspices aimed at advancing efforts to restart the peace process.
The visit comes amid intensified diplomatic activity, with the United Nations seeking to create conditions for the resumption of substantive negotiations and identify common ground between the two communities.
Guterres' arrival is being viewed as a significant development, reflecting renewed UN engagement at a time when efforts are under way to revive momentum on the Cyprus issue.
