Category: MIL-OSI

Source: United Nations (video statements)

UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited Cyprus to show his commitment to the Cyprus issue. There he met separately with Nikos Christodoulides, Leader of the Greek Cypriot Community, and with Tufan Erhürman, Leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community as part of his good offices mission.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8LXqx8cc24Q

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

– Secretary-General/Cyprus
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Haiti
– Central African Republic
– Security Council
– School Enrolment/Latin America
– Financial Contribution

SECRETARY-GENERAL/CYPRUS

The Secretary-General concluded his visit to Cyprus, and he is now on his way to New York.

Today, he held a meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhürman. The meeting took place in the United Nations Good Offices Mission compound.

Following today’s meeting with the two leaders, the Secretary-General told journalists that the discussions, held separately and jointly, were frank and constructive.

He added that based on the discussions on the way forward, he decided that he, “would convene another 5+1 meeting, after adequate preparations on confidence building, methodology and substance, taking into account the convergences already achieved.”

Mr. Guterres stressed that the UN will work in consultation with the two sides and the guarantors, to create the conditions for the meeting’s success. 

In conclusion, Mr. Guterres said that the UN cannot impose peace. But it remains fully committed to supporting the people of Cyprus in this crucial moment for the island and the wider region.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that civilians in Gaza face major public health risks, adding to the insecurity and displacement. Widespread rodent and ectoparasite infestations were reported in 83 per cent of displacement sites assessed earlier this month, and that is alongside sewage in streets, stagnant water and poor sanitation conditions.

In response, UN humanitarian partners are scaling-up rodent control this week. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and other partners are distributing nine metric tonnes of rodenticides every day, thanks to supplies brought into Gaza by the United Arab Emirates.

To reduce public health risks, sustained access to critical equipment and supplies such as spare parts and engine oil is urgently needed. It is also critical that partners managing solid waste in Gaza are permitted to reach landfills in areas where access is restricted by Israeli forces, that’s about 65 per cent of the Strip.

Access to water also remains a daily challenge for families. The UN and its partners are doing what we can to support hundreds of thousands of children and their families with access to essential water, sanitation and hygiene services.

In Khan Younis, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is supporting the construction of a central water well that is expected to benefit some 7,000 people. In Gaza City, the agency is joining efforts to clean up the Sheikh Ajleen waste water treatment plant, which served some 700,000 people before it was damaged in the hostilities.

On the education front, the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) and partners estimated this week that about 430,000 kindergarten and school-aged children, about 56 per cent of the estimated student population, were enrolled in more than 600 temporary learning spaces across Gaza. In some of these learning spaces, programmes are underway to help children catch up ahead of the new school year.

However, nearly half of school-aged children still lack adequate access to learning opportunities.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-07-29

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G03tcTtynxg

Source: United Nations (video statements)

“The United Nations cannot impose peace. But let me be very clear: the United Nations remains fully committed to supporting the people of Cyprus in this crucial moment for the island and the wider region.”

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered this message today after separate meetings with Nikos Christodoulides, Leader of the Greek Cypriot Community, and Tufan Erhürman, Leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community, followed by a joint meeting at the compound of the Good Offices Mission in Cyprus.

“As Secretary-General, from the earliest days of my mandate, acting in line with the United Nations parameters, I have sought, through my good offices, to assist Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in their efforts to reach a comprehensive, sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue,” Guterres said. “The United Nations has consistently worked toward this objective.”

“This is the moment when all efforts must be made to rebuild trust,” he continued. “To that end, it is essential to redouble efforts to define and implement confidence-building measures that can make a difference in the daily lives of all Cypriots. I appeal to the two leaders to intensify these efforts.”

“Both Mr. Erhürman and Mr. Christodoulides assured me of their determination to continue to work in earnest with my Personal Envoy,” the Secretary-General noted. “Based on our discussions on the way forward, I decided that I would convene another 5+1 meeting, after adequate preparations on confidence building, methodology and substance, taking into account the convergences already achieved. We will work in consultation with the two sides and the guarantors, to create the conditions for the meeting’s success.”

“I would like to emphasize the need to respect the mandated authority of the UN peacekeeping operation in Cyprus – UNFICYP – both in the buffer zone and the UN-delineated ceasefire lines,” Guterres stated. “For more than six decades, UNFICYP has helped maintain calm and stability in a sensitive environment. Its continued effectiveness depends on the cooperation of all sides.”

“The United Nations cannot impose peace,” he added. “But let me be very clear: the United Nations remains fully committed to supporting the people of Cyprus in this crucial moment for the island and the wider region.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTbh74eksh4

Source: United Nations (video statements)

UN Peacekeepers came to the support of 17,000 displaced people following a recent attack in the Central African border with Sudan. Men, women and children, once again, found refuge in Am-Dafock, where MINUSCA, the UN peacekeeping mission in CAR holds a temporary operating base, facilitating security, humanitarian aid and supporting State institutions.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qr8PQ3CSd88

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Press Conference by António Guterres UN Secretary General following his meeting with Leaders Cyprus.

On Wednesday, 29 July 2026, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, hosted the Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhüman, at his Good Offices Mission inside the UN Protected Area.

TRANSCRIPT:

Good afternoon to all of you, distinguished members of the media.
I want to begin by expressing my deep appreciation for the warm welcome I have received from all Cypriots during my first visit here.

Cyprus is an island of remarkable history, rich culture, and enduring resilience.

It is also a place where the beauty and potential of the present co-exist with the scars of a painful past.

During my visit, I have seen both.

But, above all, I have witnessed a deep desire among Cypriots to build a more peaceful and shared future.

As Secretary-General, from the earliest days of my mandate, acting in line with the United Nations parameters, I have sought, through my good offices, to assist Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in their efforts to reach a comprehensive, sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue.

The United Nations has consistently worked toward this objective.

We met in Geneva and in Crans Montana in 2017, in Berlin in 2019, in Geneva in 2021, and again in New York and Geneva in 2024 and 2025.

In this context, it was my duty to come to Cyprus to express my full solidarity with the people of Cyprus in their quest for a solution.

This is the moment when all efforts must be made to rebuild trust.

To that end, it is essential to redouble efforts to define and implement confidence-building measures that can make a difference in the daily lives of all Cypriots.

I appeal to the two leaders to intensify these efforts.

My Personal Envoy, Ms. Maria Angela Holguin, has been working with the parties – building on past UN efforts – and what she has heard directly from Cypriots themselves.

Throughout this visit, I have also had the opportunity to hear from many Cypriots.

Their message was clear.

They want progress.

They want to see their leaders make compromises and to walk that last mile towards a settlement of the Cyprus issue.

They want a future in which this island is defined not by division, but by cooperation, opportunity, and peace.

That was also the spirit of my frank and constructive discussions with the two leaders, both separately and together.
Both Mr. Erhürman and Mr. Christodoulides assured me of their determination to continue to work in earnest with my Personal Envoy.

Based on our discussions on the way forward, I decided that I would convene another 5+1 meeting, after adequate preparations on confidence building, methodology and substance, taking into account the convergences already achieved.

We will work in consultation with the two sides and the guarantors, to create the conditions for the meeting’s success.

In relation to the situation on the ground, I would like to emphasize the need to respect the mandated authority of the UN peacekeeping operation in Cyprus – UNFICYP – both in the buffer zone and the UN-delineated ceasefire lines.

For more than six decades, UNFICYP has helped maintain calm and stability in a sensitive environment.

Its continued effectiveness depends on the cooperation of all sides.

I was impressed by the work of the Committee on Missing Persons and the remarkable bi-communal efforts to respond to the anxiety of the families of all missing persons.

I was equally impressed by the work of the bicommunal Technical Committees, that are bridging the gap between the political track and everyday citizens, and finding practical solutions.

And I had the opportunity to engage constructively with members of the civil society.

The international communityalso has an important role to play on the Cyprus issue.

In particular, I count on the continued support of the three guarantors – Greece, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom.

Finally, I wish to once again recognize the significant contributions of the staff of UNFICYP and my Mission of Good Offices.

They are all playing critical roles in advancing peace and stability and the prospects of a peaceful solution.

I was pleased to convey my gratitude to them in person during my stay here.

The United Nations cannot impose peace. But let me be very clear: the United Nations remains fully committed to supporting the people of Cyprus in this crucial moment for the island and the wider region.

Thank you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTbh74eksh4