As I have stated publicly on several occasions, changing the status quo for the benefit of all requires that the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders build a different model of interaction and take necessary decisions that would demonstrate a genuine interest in resuming negotiations. I sincerely hope that the series of joint meetings Mr. Christodoulides and Mr. Erhürman had since November 2025 will herald positive movement in this direction.
While the role of the leaders will remain fundamental, their important efforts also need to be actively supported by all Cypriots. Sustaining dialogue and working towards peace should indeed be a collective effort. This is why I hosted various meetings between key groups from both communities over the past months.
In November 2025, I convened a retreat of the Technical Committee on Youth established by the leaders last year. This event – which took place in Amman with the support of the Swedish government and the Folke Bernadotte Academy – proved fruitful as it allowed young people to articulate their vision of the island’s future. Their concrete ideas, suggestions and enthusiasm to jointly contribute towards building a better future for Cyprus remains a great source of optimism and of inspiration for me personally and – I hope – for all Cypriots.
A few weeks ago, I also personally participated in an informal seminar organised by the Norwegian Centre for Conflict Resolution (NOREF) which brought together a group of prominent Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot academics in Paphos. The group engaged in a meaningful and candid discussion on the challenges and opportunities the island and the Eastern Mediterranean region face. They also managed to articulate various scenarios and proposals with a creative spirit with one thing in mind: ensure a better and sustainable future for Cyprus.
Last week, with the support of the UK Government, I hosted the Co-Chairs of the thirteen Technical Committees serving under the leaders at Wilton Park. The participants engaged in frank – and often lively – discussions on ways to build trust through the Technical Committees and to further enhance the effectiveness of these unique tools. The retreat began with an assessment of the current context, including a review of the Committees’ progress, strengths, challenges and opportunities for renewed collaboration. The participants examined relevant international experiences and practical ways to overcome political, resource-related and structural obstacles to their work. Panel discussions also explored how the Committees can increase their impact, secure institutional commitment and improve outreach within and across both communities. I was heartened to witness the strong resolve and the commitment of all the Co-Chairs to build bridges and to contribute personally to advancing the cause of peace in Cyprus. I wish to pay tribute to the ever-important work – which often goes unnoticed – of all thirteen Technical Committees.
In the coming months, I intend to continue organising similar meetings with other segments of society from both communities with the sole objective to encourage rapprochement at all levels, help generate concrete ideas to shape a common vision of the island and create greater opportunities to pursue positive change based on collective efforts.