UN chief makes rare Cyprus visit to help ease decades-old ethnic division

UN chief makes rare Cyprus visit to help ease decades-old ethnic division 1 of 4 | United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, speaks to the press after his meeting with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) 2 of 4 | United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, right, speaks with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, as he leaves the presidential palace and after their meeting, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) 3 of 4 | United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, speaks to the press after his meeting with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) 4 of 4 | United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, right, shakes hands with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, as he leaves the presidential palace and after their meeting, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) 1 of 4 | United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, speaks to the press after his meeting with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) 1 of 4 United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, speaks to the press after his meeting with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 4 | United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, right, speaks with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, as he leaves the presidential palace and after their meeting, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) 2 of 4 United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, right, speaks with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, as he leaves the presidential palace and after their meeting, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 4 | United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, speaks to the press after his meeting with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) 3 of 4 United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, speaks to the press after his meeting with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 4 | United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, right, shakes hands with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, as he leaves the presidential palace and after their meeting, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) 4 of 4 United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, right, shakes hands with Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, as he leaves the presidential palace and after their meeting, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Nicosia, Cyprus (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on a rare visit to Cyprus said Tuesday he was demonstrating his commitment to resolving the island nation’s decades-old ethnic division, even as expectations remain low for a speedy breakthrough leading to a peace accord.“I will do everything I can to support the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in this very important moment,” Guterres said after talks with Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.The U.N. chief also met with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman and was scheduled to hold joint meetings with both later Tuesday and Wednesday.The first visit by a U.N. chief in 16 years came during renewed efforts to resume formal peace talks after a nearly decade-long hiatus. The last major push, which Guterres mediated in 2017, collapsed in recriminations over who and what was to blame for the impasse. A Cyprus peace deal would help unlock the eastern Mediterranean’s potential as a provider of natural gas for Europe and beyond while easing tensions in a turbulent region with competing interests over energy, territory and influence.Numerous rounds of U.N.-mediated talks have shared the same fate since 1974, when the island was divided following a Turkish invasion prompted by an Athens-backed coup with the stated goal of union with Greece.