A Historic ...
A Historic First — Leaders of Divided Cyprus to Meet on November 20
After a long period of political limbo, the Greek Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides and the newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman are set to meet on November 20, 2025. This gathering marks their first face-to-face meeting since Erhürman won in October, and will take place at the United Nations envoy’s residence in the buffer zone on the island.
Erhürman, who ran as a moderate candidate, has pledged to revive the long-stalled UN-backed reunification negotiations. Meanwhile, Christodoulides has emphasized his “constructive and sincere political will.”
This meeting occurs against a backdrop of decades of division: Cyprus has been split between the Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north since 1974, following a Turkish invasion.
This meeting is symbolically significant, but whether it will lead to anything substantive remains uncertain. On one hand, Erhürman’s election offers genuine hope. His platform of reunification marks a contrast to the more nationalist rhetoric of his predecessor. That he’s now meeting Christodoulides signals a willingness , at least publicly , to re-engage with the U.N.-brokered process.
On the other hand, Cyprus’s political deadlock is deeply entrenched. This isn’t just about personalities; structural and geopolitical challenges remain. The location (the UN envoy’s house) is telling: this is not a high-stakes treaty signing, but a cautious, measured beginning. Both sides will likely use the meeting to test each other’s sincerity, tonality, and willingness to compromise , rather than to launch a final push for reunification.
Erhürman, though moderate, still must balance his promise of a federal solution with pressures from Ankara. Meanwhile, Christodoulides has to navigate not only domestic expectations but also European dimensions , Cyprus will soon hold the rotating EU presidency, giving the south extra leverage but also higher stakes.
Also, there is a real risk of disillusionment. Previous negotiation rounds have collapsed after high hopes. If this meeting doesn’t translate into a concrete roadmap, cynicism among both communities could deepen , setting back prospects for peace. Conversely, if it does lead somewhere, it could reignite momentum for reconciliation in a way not seen in years.
Bottom line: This is a cautiously optimistic step, not a guarantee. The meeting is a small but meaningful opening , one that could either become the spark for a renewed peace process or fade away without major breakthroughs. For Cyprus and the international community, the key will be what comes next, not just what is said on November 20.
Market Cyprus - News Service
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