联合国秘书长古特雷斯在塞浦路斯进行访问期间强调，解决该国52年来的族群分裂"绝对关键"，不仅关系到塞浦路斯人民的和平与利益，也是维护地区稳定的必要条件[1]。塞浦路斯自1974年遭土耳其入侵后陷入分裂，目前由联合国控制的缓冲区将北部土族塞人与南部希族塞人隔开[1]。古特雷斯表示已准备召集5+1集团——包括土塞两族领导人、希腊、土耳其、英国三国外长及联合国秘书长——重启和平谈判，但强调需要更多准备工作以确保会议成功[1]。
当前分裂局面中，土耳其在北部驻扎了超过35000名军队，仅土耳其承认北部的土塞独立[1]。塞浦路斯虽于2004年加入欧盟，但仅南部享受欧盟全部权益[1]。土塞双方在联邦制与两国制的制度选择、土耳其军事驻留等问题上存在根本分歧[1]。古特雷斯曾警告土耳其副总统耶尔马兹，反对塞浦路斯利用其欧盟身份和与以色列的关系向安卡拉施压换取让步[1]。
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized that resolving Cyprus's 52-year ethnic division is "absolutely critical" not only for the peace and interests of the Cypriot people, but also for regional stability.[1] During a two-day visit to the island, Guterres indicated his readiness to convene the 5+1 group—comprising the leaders of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities, foreign ministers from Greece, Turkey, and Britain, and the UN secretary-general—to restart peace negotiations, though he stressed that additional preparation is needed to ensure the talks' success.[1]
The island has remained divided since Turkey's 1974 military intervention, with a UN-controlled buffer zone now separating the Turkish Cypriot north from the Greek Cypriot south.[1] Turkey maintains a military presence of over 35,000 troops in the north, and only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Cypriot state; Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, but only the southern part enjoys full membership benefits.[1] The two communities remain fundamentally at odds over whether any future arrangement should be federal or based on two separate states, as well as over the scope of Turkish military deployment on the island.[1]
Earlier this month, Guterres cautioned Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz against Cyprus leveraging its EU status and ties with Israel to extract concessions from Ankara.[1]