SECRETARY-GENERAL’S FOREIGN DEBUT
Promising signs for Cyprus as summit to unify island starts
Guterres is undertaking his first foreign trip as head of the UN in a bid to achieve a breakthrough at the Geneva summit
Geneva — UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres opened a conference on Thursday aimed at ending decades of division in Cyprus, billed as the "very last chance" to solve one of the world’s longest-running political crises. Guterres is undertaking his first foreign trip as head of the UN in a bid to achieve a breakthrough at the Geneva summit, which brings together rival Cypriot sides as well as Greece, Turkey and former colonial power Britain. The eastern Mediterranean island has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece. Thursday’s multiparty talks follow three days of negotiation between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders aimed at forging a united, two-zone federation. The intra-Cypriot talks focused on thorny domestic issues such as territory and what a future, unified government might look like. UN Cyprus envoy Espen Barth Eide has termed this week "the moment of truth" and insisted that a deal to s...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.