In the draft of the two reports of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on his Good Offices Mission and on the Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus during the period December 2024 – June 2025, demonstrates that despite relative stability and confidence-building efforts, progress towards a comprehensive solution remains limited.

Also, according to the Cyprus News Agency, in its comments accompanying the report, it says that the full implementation of the Green Line Regulation and the opening of four new crossing points, as agreed in Geneva, are necessary steps.

Meanwhile, according to RIK‘s New York correspondent Thanasis Tsitsas, in conclusion, lack of trust, military tensions and unilateral actions continue to undermine peace efforts. The UN Secretary-General calls on both sides, as well as the guarantor powers, to show political will and resume meaningful dialogue.

At the same time, it stresses the importance of using existing technical and humanitarian mechanisms to enhance cooperation, trust and re-engagement. In particular, the draft Good Offices Mission report documents renewed diplomatic activity, culminating in the informal meeting in Geneva in March 2025, where six confidence-building initiatives were agreed.

The important role of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General is highlighted in terms of enhancing contacts between the two sides. At the same time, the need for political will is stressed and it is noted that the solution must be based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality. It is noted that the Greek Cypriot leader reiterated his commitment to talks within the UN framework, while the Turkish Cypriot leader insists on a two-state solution.

The report on UNFICYP, focuses on the military and humanitarian situation on the ground.

It notes that, no serious crises occurred along the line of confrontation, but reports that military violations by both sides continued.

Continued violations of Security Council resolutions in Varosha, such as technical interference and installation of cameras, and restrictions on the freedom of movement of the UNFICYP mission in critical areas such as Varosha and Strovilia are also noted.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described as encouraging the concrete steps taken at the informal Geneva Conference, with a number of concrete initiatives agreed upon that have the potential to build trust between the two sides, while noting that “if the two sides remain committed, further positive steps are possible.”

“This, together with the decision by all parties to hold another informal meeting at the end of July, their agreement to appoint my Personal Envoy and meetings between the leaders on the island, are indications of more focused efforts to find a way forward on the Cyprus problem. If the two sides remain committed, further positive steps are possible,” the Secretary-General said in his draft Good Offices report released yesterday at the United Nations. He calls on the sides to demonstrate a “spirit of compromise”, particularly on the issues of crossing points and the photovoltaic project within the neutral zone, which he calls “an essential sign of political will”.

The SG stresses the need for “meaningful dialogue beyond confidence-building measures”. “I firmly believe in the power of ongoing dialogue to increase confidence. It is therefore important to work together on next steps, including the upcoming informal expanded meeting with the sides and the guarantor powers expected at the end of July. Recognizing the continuing differences in [the two sides’] positions on the peace process, I urge the parties to engage in meaningful discussions, in addition to confidence-building initiatives.”

Antonio Guterres expresses concern about the “unilateral actions of the two sides in and around the buffer zone”, warning that they “undermine the military status quo, the integrity of the buffer zone and the Security Council’s mandate, and do not contribute to the overall peace process”. On the enclosed area of Barossa, it recalled that “the position of the United Nations remains unchanged”, referring to UNSC resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992).

The Secretary-General calls on the guarantor powers – Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom – to contribute constructively and reaffirms his commitment to maintain a dialogue with all parties, guided by the relevant Security Council resolutions. The Secretary-General also refers to a regional diplomatic lull, with improved Greek-Turkish relations, which creates a more favourable environment for the Cyprus problem.

He also refers to Security Council calls for “strengthening the engagement of civil society”, particularly youth and women’s organizations, and calls on leaders to seek the input of the Technical Committee on Gender Equality to determine concrete steps forward. It urges, inter alia, that the Technical Committee on Education be strengthened, including through support for initiatives such as the award-winning Imagine program.

The report states that over 130 meetings of the 13 technical committees were held with the support of UNFICYP, gender balance was maintained (52% men – 48% women). The UN mission also promoted actions through sport. Trade through the Green Line is reported to have decreased slightly to 15.2 million in 2024.

It is worth noting that the draft Good Offices report is accompanied by written notes from the two leaders. President Christodoulides reiterates his commitment to the process of finding a solution on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, while TC leader Ersin Tatar reiterates the equal sovereignty and international status and claims for the three A’s (direct flights, direct trade and direct [international] relations).