The United Nations has made a symbolic gesture recalling efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem 17 years ago, presenting Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman with a bottle of olive oil each, produced from olives harvested from trees planted in 2009 by then-Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and then-Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

The gifts were presented as the two leaders arrived at the offices of the United Nations Good Offices Mission in the United Nations-controlled area of the former Nicosia International Airport, where they are holding their latest meeting on the Cyprus problem.

The two trees were planted on 15 October 2009 at the entrance to the negotiating venue as a sign of the two leaders’ shared commitment to peace and the reunification of the island.

The olive trees planted in 2009

The story of the two trees dates back to a period when Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat were engaged in intensive direct negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations.

On 15 October 2009, before the start of another round of talks, the two leaders planted the olive trees in the presence of civil society representatives and officials from the international organisation.

Representatives of more than 40 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot organisations that had launched an initiative to support the talks attended the ceremony.

According to official UN records, the organisations’ representatives presented the two leaders with a resolution expressing their support for efforts to promote reconciliation and the reunification of Cyprus.

Ten years later, on 21 September 2019, to mark the International Day of Peace, Elizabeth Spehar, then the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus, unveiled a commemorative plaque between the two trees, recalling the symbolism of the initiative launched by Christofias and Talat.

Renewed efforts ahead of Holguín’s arrival

Today’s meeting between Christodoulides and Erhürman takes place two days before the scheduled arrival in Cyprus, on 29 October, of Maria Angela Holguín, the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General.

Following their one-to-one meeting, the two leaders are expected to meet jointly with representatives of the bicommunal Technical Committees on Youth and Cultural Heritage, as well as the Coordinating Committee of the Civil Society Advisory Body.

At their previous meeting, on 20 October, the two leaders discussed confidence-building measures, the methodology for negotiations and substantive issues relating to the Cyprus problem. They also agreed to advance initiatives concerning the environment and the exchange of cultural heritage items.

The next key date is 9 November, when a trilateral meeting is scheduled between Christodoulides, Erhürman and Holguín.

The United Nations aims to create the conditions for a meaningful resumption of negotiations following years of stalemate over the Cyprus problem.

The two olive trees planted in 2009 remain on UN premises and have now produced the fruit used to make the symbolic gift presented today.