António Guterres - Media Stakeout, Informal meeting on Cyprus
/
6:16
/
MP4
/
377.5 MB
Transcripts
Teleprompter
Download

Edited News , Press Conferences | UNITED NATIONS

Informal Meeting on Cyprus, UN Geneva: UN Secretary-General António Guterres Media Stakeout - 18 March 2025

Cyprus talks result in trust-building measures, show ‘new atmosphere’ among divided island’s leaders, says UN’s Guterres

UN-led efforts to kick-start talks on the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus have resulted in agreements on new trust-building measures and also underscored the positive “new atmosphere” surrounding the discussions, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday.

Speaking in Geneva after a second day of informal talks, the UN chief underscored his commitment to ensuring the security and well-being of the Cypriots - the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots – “from the very start of my mandate…today was another attempt to find a way forward”.

Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar, Turkish Cypriot leader, had gathered at UN Geneva along with guarantors Greece, Türkiye and the United Kingdom at the request of Mr. Guterres.

“Mr. Tatar and Mr. Christodoulides have agreed the following group of initiatives to build trust,” he said, listing “opening of the four crossing points, demining, creation of a technical committee on youth, initiatives on the environment and climate change including the impacts on mining areas; solar energy in the buffer zone and the restoration of cemeteries”.

The UN has pushed for negotiations towards a settlement of the issues which led to the division of the island, with the Security Council authorising a peacekeeping force in 1964, UNFICYP. In the absence of a lasting agreement, the force remains on the island to supervise ceasefire lines, a buffer zone and to support humanitarian activities.

Mr. Guterres attempted to bring the two sides together in 2017 at the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana but talks ultimately broke down. A further push was made in 2021.

In contrast, the latest discussions saw “meaningful progress”, the UN chief insisted. “I hope that the confidence-building measures or the initiatives to build trust, together with the decision to have very soon a next meeting and the acceptance by all of the appointment of a Special Envoy on Cyprus to prepare the next steps, demonstrates the sense of commitment and the sense of urgency that I believe were extremely important. It's a new atmosphere.”

Ends

STORY: Cyprus talks stakeout - António Guterres

TRT: 02’16”

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 18 March 2025 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Medium shot, panning, TV cameras, António Guterres, UN Secretary-General walking to dais, Palais des Nations.
  2. SOUNDBITE: António Guterres, UN Secretary-General: “From the very start of my mandate, I have been committed to the security and well-being of the Cypriots - the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. And today was another attempt to find a way forward.”
  3. Medium: TV cameras, journalists, photographers.
  4. SOUNDBITE: António Guterres, UN Secretary-General: “Mr. Tatar and Mr. Christodoulides have agreed the following group of initiatives to build trust: opening the four crossing points, demining, creation of a technical committee on youth, initiatives on the environment and climate change including the impacts on mining areas; solar energy in the buffer zone and the restoration of cemeteries.”
  5. Close: mobile phone filming Security-General.
  6. SOUNDBITE: António Guterres, UN Secretary-General: “Today there was meaningful progress. And I hope that the confidence-building measures or the initiatives to build trust, together with the decision to have very soon a next meeting and the acceptance by all of the appointment of a Special Envoy on Cyprus to prepare the next steps, demonstrates the sense of commitment and the sense of urgency that I believe were extremely important. It's a new atmosphere.”
  7. Medium: Press pack.
  8. Medium: Press pack.
  9. Close: journalists, TV cameras.

Similar Stories

WMO Press conference: Annual Sand and Dust bulletin - 10 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WMO

WMO Press conference: Annual Sand and Dust bulletin - 10 July 2025 ENG FRA

Sara Basart, WMO Scientific Officer, speaks.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 08 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR , WHO , UNCTAD

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 08 July 2025 ENG FRA

Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the International Trade Centre, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, World Health Organization, and United Nations Trade and Development.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on recent violence in Kenya

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on recent violence in Kenya ENG FRA

At the United Nations bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights made the following comments on the recent violence in Kenya.

US tariffs impact - ITC

1

1

1

Edited News | ITC

US tariffs impact - ITC ENG FRA

US tariffs uncertainty hurts world economy, with poorest countries hit hardest – top UN economist

A new US decision to further delay the end of a 90-day pause on tariffs is bad for business, a top UN economist said on Tuesday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 04 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WIPO , UNICEF , UNHCR , WHO , IFRC

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 04 July 2025 ENG FRA

Rolando Gómez, of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Federation of the Red Cross, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the Organisation Internationale pour la Francophonie, and the GIGA Connectivity Forum.

Gaza aid site casualties WHO - OHCHR 04 JULY 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OHCHR

Gaza aid site casualties WHO - OHCHR 04 JULY 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza aid site horror continues as more starving people shot trying to get food

Amid intensifying hopes for a new Gaza ceasefire, UN humanitarians confirmed disturbing details on Friday of continued killings and injuries of Palestinians desperately seeking food at aid sites.

OHCHR/ Special Procedures - Press conference: Special Rapporteur on OPT - 3 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC

OHCHR/ Special Procedures - Press conference: Special Rapporteur on OPT - 3 July 2025 ENG FRA

Launch of the latest report of the Special Rapporteur "From economy of occupation to economy of genocide".

Iran update - UN Resident Coordinator

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA

Iran update - UN Resident Coordinator ENG FRA

A clearer picture of needs across Iran is beginning to emerge after the conflict this month with Israel, which left hundreds dead, several hospitals hit and a spike in Afghan refugees returning home, the UN’s top official in Tehran said on Tuesday.

Heatwave update - WMO

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Heatwave update - WMO ENG FRA

The blistering early-summer heatwave that’s brought life-threatening temperatures across much of the northern hemisphere is a worrying sign of things to come, UN weather experts said on Tuesday. 

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 01 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IFRC , WFP , WMO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 01 July 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations in Iran, the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Meteorological Organisation, and the International Federation of the Red Cross.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk Remarks to Human Rights Council Annual Panel on adverse impacts of climate change

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk Remarks to Human Rights Council Annual Panel on adverse impacts of climate change ENG FRA

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk made the following remarks to the Human Rights Council annual panel on adverse impacts of climate change.