The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Colin Stewart, stated on Tuesday that there is the best opportunity since 2017 to achieve progress on issues of public concern in Cyprus, such as the opening of new crossing points and resolving the Pyla road situation.

Following his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, Stewart described the discussions as constructive. He emphasized the importance of addressing both the crossing points and the Pyla road issue, underlining their relevance to the ongoing UN peacekeeping efforts.

“We discussed the outcome of the October meeting with the Secretary-General and explored ways to move forward on crossing points,” Stewart said. “Mr. Tatar reiterated the importance of resolving the Pyla road situation, and I agreed it is significant.”

Earlier in the day, Stewart met with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides. Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis revealed that President Christodoulides had proposed three specific dates in January for a meeting to focus exclusively on the crossing points.

Stewart will travel to New York in January to brief the UN Security Council on the upcoming mandate renewal of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), which expires on January 31, 2025. The briefing will also prepare for the anticipated multilateral meeting involving the two leaders and the guarantor powers.

“The President reiterated the Greek Cypriot side’s readiness to resume negotiations and hold the agreed meeting on crossing points as soon as possible,” Letymbiotis said, expressing hope for a constructive outcome.

UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo is expected to visit the region in early 2025 to conduct meetings as part of efforts to advance preparations for the multilateral meeting.

The issue of buffer zone violations was also raised during the President’s meeting with Stewart. Letymbiotis emphasized that maintaining the buffer zone remains the primary responsibility of the UN Peacekeeping Force and that the Government consistently raises concerns about such violations.

The Security Council session on January 16 will address the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate. President Christodoulides highlighted to Stewart the critical importance of UNFICYP’s presence in Cyprus, especially amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.