(FILES) This picture taken on February 7, 2020 shows a view of (L to R, foreground) the flags of Greece, Cyprus, (L to R, background) Turkey, and the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) flying on respective security outposts lying off both sides of the United Nations Buffer Zone in the old walled city of the divided capital Nicosia. - Since a Turkish invasion 50 years ago triggered by an Athens-backed coup, Cyprus has been divided between the Greek-speaking UN-recognised republic in the south and the Turkish Cypriot north, which unilaterally declared independence in 1983. (Photo by Amir MAKAR / AFP)
UN chief Antonio Guterres was to meet with rival Cypriot leaders on Monday to kick off two days of informal talks aimed at finding a “way forward” on the divided island, Agence France-Presse reported.
Guterres was to convene President Nikos Christodoulides of the Greek-speaking, internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar at the United Nations offices in Geneva.
The guarantor powers of Britain, Greece and Turkey were also set to participate.
“This meeting is being held in the context of the secretary-general’s good offices’ efforts on the Cyprus issue,” a UN spokeswoman told AFP.
“The informal meeting will provide an opportunity for a meaningful discussion on the way forward.”
Since a 1974 military operation by Turkey triggered by an Athens-backed coup, the Mediterranean island has been divided between the Greek-speaking south and the Turkish Cypriot north, which unilaterally declared independence in 1983 but is only recognized by Turkey.
The Republic of Cyprus is an EU member state. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) covers about a third of the island, including parts of the capital, Nicosia.
Turkey has kept troops on the island since the 1974 operation.
Decades of UN-backed talks have failed to reunify the island. The last round of full-on peace talks, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, collapsed in 2017.
Greek Cypriots in 2004 overwhelmingly rejected a UN-backed reunification plan in a referendum.
No joint press conference is currently foreseen at the end of the meeting in Geneva.
In October of last year, Guterres hosted an informal dinner with Christodoulides and Tatar in New York.
The rival Cypriot leaders also met in January to discuss opening more crossing points across the divided island, as part of trust-building efforts to revive stalled peace talks.
They met in the buffer zone that has split the Mediterranean island for decades.
There are currently nine crossings along the UN-patrolled Green Line that separates the two sides. Thousands cross daily for work, education or medical care.
Calls have grown for more crossings along the 180-kilometer (110-mile) buffer zone to ease access for people in remote areas.
Guterres is due to travel to Brussels on Tuesday for meetings with European Union leaders on Wednesday.
Guterres wrapped up a four-day visit to Bangladesh on Sunday during which he met with Rohingya refugees, threatened by looming humanitarian aid cuts.
He also met with members of Dhaka’s interim government, including its chief advisor, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.