The plenary session of the informal expanded meeting on the Cyprus issue has concluded, with reports indicating positive developments.

The session, which began at approximately 13:00 Cyprus time at the Palais des Nations, the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, ended around 16:20 Cyprus time. President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides is expected to brief the members of the National Council on the outcomes of the discussions.

Three significant developments have emerged—the first since 2017.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced his decision to appoint a personal envoy to prepare the next steps in the Cyprus issue. The announcement came in Geneva following the conclusion of the informal expanded meeting. He also confirmed that another such meeting will take place at the end of July.

Guterres stated that President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar have agreed on several confidence-building initiatives, including:

• The opening of four new crossing points
• A demining process
• The establishment of a Technical Committee on Youth
• Environmental and climate change initiatives
• The production of solar energy in the buffer zone
• The restoration of cemeteries