Editing Cyprus problem (section)

===2018–present===
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In June 2018, in an attempt to jump-start the talks, UN Secretary-General [[António Guterres]] appointed [[Jane Holl Lute]] as his new adviser for Cyprus. Her mission was to consult the two Cypriot leaders, Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akıncı, and the three guarantor parties (Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom) to determine if favourable conditions existed to resume UN-hosted negotiations and, if so, to prepare comprehensive "terms of reference". Lute conducted a first round of consultations in September 2018, a second in October 2018, a third in January 2019, and a fourth and final round on 7 April 2019, and found that both sides were seemingly farther apart.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41136.pdf|title=Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive|work=Congressional Research Service |first=Vincent L. |last=Morelli |date=15 April 2019|access-date=25 March 2020}}</ref>

On 12 November 2018, the Dherynia checkpoint on the island's east coast and the Lefka-Aplikli checkpoint 52&nbsp;km west of Nicosia were opened that brought the total crossing points to nine along the island's 180&nbsp;km long buffer zone.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/lefka-and-deryneia-crossing-points-to-open-today|title=Lefka and Dherynia crossing points are now open|work=Kathimerini |date=12 November 2018|access-date=25 March 2020}}</ref>

On 5 February 2019, [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]] stated they wanted to defuse tensions between them through dialogue, including regarding the Cyprus dispute. Another [[2018 Cyprus gas dispute|dispute]] over oil and gas explorations in the waters of Cyprus' [[exclusive economic zone]] between the different parties is however keeping them from renewing talks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/greece-turkey-vow-to-defuse-tensions-through-dialogue/|title=Greece, Turkey vow to defuse tensions through dialogue|date=6 February 2019|website=Euractiv|language=en-GB|access-date=1 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/07/article/tensions-ratchet-up-in-cyprus-gas-dispute/|title=Tensions ratchet up in Cyprus gas dispute |work=Asia Times|date=July 2019|language=en|access-date=1 July 2019}}</ref>

On 25 November 2019, [[António Guterres|Guterres]], [[Nicos Anastasiades|Anastasiades]] and [[Mustafa Akıncı|Akıncı]] came together at an informal dinner in Berlin and discussed the next steps on the Cyprus issue. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots could not however agree "terms of reference" to restart phased, meaningful, and results-oriented Cyprus negotiations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.financialmirror.com/2019/11/26/no-movement-expected-on-peace-talks-until-after-april-2020/|title=No movement expected on peace talks until after April 2020|date=26 November 2019|work=Financial Mirror|access-date=25 March 2020}}</ref>

On 20 January 2020, the United Nations special envoy for Cyprus said that "there's growing scepticism as to whether reunification is still possible" as negotiations remained deadlocked.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch/february-alerts-and-january-trends-2020|title=February Alerts and January Trends 2020|date=31 January 2020|website=www.crisisgroup.org}}</ref>

In February 2020, [[Mustafa Akıncı]], the [[President of Northern Cyprus]], said in an interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'' that if the reunification efforts in Cyprus failed then northern Cyprus would grow increasingly dependent on Turkey and could end up being swallowed up, as a de facto Turkish province, adding that the prospect of a [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Crimea-style annexation]] would be "horrible".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harding |first=Luke |date=2020-02-06 |title=Turkish Cypriot leader warns Cyprus is facing permanent partition |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/06/turkish-cypriot-leader-warns-cyprus-facing-permanent-partition-mustafa-akinci |access-date=2023-12-16 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Turkish officials condemned him. Turkey's vice-president [[Fuat Oktay]] said: "I condemn the remarks that target Republic of Turkey which stands with TRNC in all conditions and protect its rights and interests." Communications Director [[Fahrettin Altun]] said that Akıncı does not deserve to be president, adding that many Turkish Cypriots and Turkish soldiers lost their lives (for Cyprus) and that Turkey has no designs on the soil of any country. Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül criticised Akıncı's remarks, which he said hurt the ancestors and martyrs. In addition, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister [[Ersin Tatar]] criticised Akıncı.<ref>[https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/top-turkish-officials-slam-turkish-cypriot-leader-for-remarks-151875 "Top Turkish officials slam Turkish Cypriot leader for remarks"]. ''Hürriyet''.</ref>

No Cyprus unity talks breakthrough were seen in 2020. [[Nicos A. Rolandis|Nicos Rolandis]] (foreign minister of Cyprus 1978–1983 and commerce minister 1998–2003) said a political settlement to Cyprus dispute is almost impossible for now.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/278080/no-cyprus-unity-talks-breakthrough-seen-this-year/|title=No Cyprus Unity Talks Breakthrough Seen This Year|date=6 January 2020|work=The National Herald|access-date=25 March 2020}}</ref> Prime Minister [[Ersin Tatar]], who supports a two-state solution, won the [[2020 Northern Cypriot presidential election]].<ref name="reuters-cyprus"/>

Since the election of Ersin Tatar, both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots insist a two-state solution is the only option.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024|reason=Which Turkish Cypriots?}} Greece, Cyprus, the EU and the United Nations maintain a federation as the only solution which has led to a freeze in talks since 2020.

On 30 January 2022, Tatar specified that sovereign equality and the equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots are non-negotiable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/tatar-insists-on-sovereign-equality-to-start-cyprus-talks/|title=Tatar insists on sovereign equality to start Cyprus talks|date=30 January 2022|work=Phile News|access-date=31 January 2022|archive-date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131080328/https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/tatar-insists-on-sovereign-equality-to-start-cyprus-talks/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/01/30/tatar-says-hes-ready-for-an-informal-dialogue|title=Tatar says he's ready for an informal dialogue|date=30 January 2022|publisher=Cyprus-mail|access-date=31 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldstockmarket.net/e-tatar-first-recognition-of-sovereign-equality-then-negotiation|title=E. Tatar: First recognition of sovereign equality, then negotiation|date=30 January 2022|work=Worldstockmarket|access-date=31 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fourals.com/2022/01/30/incendiary-statements-of-tatars-varosia-belongs-to-the-pseudo-state-the-federation-is-out-of-time|title=Incendiary statements of Tatars: Varosia belongs to the pseudo-state – 'The federation is out of time'|date=30 January 2022|work=Fourals|access-date=31 January 2022|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921223035/https://www.fourals.com/2022/01/30/incendiary-statements-of-tatars-varosia-belongs-to-the-pseudo-state-the-federation-is-out-of-time/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 11 November 2022, [[Northern Cyprus]] became a non-member observer state of the [[Organisation of Turkic States|Organisation of Turkic States (OTS)]] with its official name "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.turkicstates.org/en/haberler/turkic-world-stands-united_2799|title=Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus |date=4 May 2023}}</ref> The Cypriot government condemned this action.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/11/11/observer-status-at-turkic-states-for-north-is-meaningless-foreign-ministry-says-updated/|title='Observer status' at Turkic States for north is 'meaningless', foreign ministry says |date=11 November 2022}}</ref> The European Union also condemned it and "expressed strong support to the principle of territorial integrity and the [[UN Charter]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/cyprus-statement-spokesperson-observer-status-turkish-cypriot-secessionist-entity-organisation_en|title=Cyprus: Statement of the Spokesperson on the observer status for Turkish Cypriot secessionist entity in Organisation of Turkic States |date=12 November 2022}}</ref>

On 29 April 2023, Northern Cyprus became an observer member state of the [[TURKPA|Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA)]] with its official name "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-114_-kktc-cumhuriyet-meclisi-nin-turk-devletleri-parlamenter-asamblesi-ne-gozlemci-uye-olarak-kabul-edilmesi-hk.en.mfa|title=No: 114, 29 April 2023, Press Release Regarding the Acceptance of the Assembly of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus As An Observer Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States |date=29 April 2023}}</ref>

On 5 July 2024, the mandate of the UN Secretary General personal envoy, [[María Ángela Holguín]], ended. Holguín found no common ground for Cyprus solution. In parting letter, Holguín called for Cypriots to "think differently" to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2024/07/01/unsc-head-says-holguin-only-found-there-is-no-common-ground-for-cyprus-solution/|title=UNSC head says Holguin only found 'there is no common ground for Cyprus solution'|date=1 July 2024|publisher=Cyprus Mail|access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch/july-trends-and-august-alerts-2024#cyprus|title=Inflammatory rhetoric soared as Cyprus marked 50th anniversary of Turkish troop presence|date=15 July 2024|publisher=International Crisis Group|access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref>

On 15 October 2024, the UN Secretary General, [[António Guterres]], stated that there is no common ground between [[Greek Cypriots]] and [[Turkish Cypriots]] in [[Island of Cyprus|Cyprus]] for negotiations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kibrispostasi.com/c140-DAILY_NEWS/n536992-guterres-no-common-ground-between-leaders-informal-expanded-meeting-planned|title=Guterres: No Common Ground Between Leaders, Informal Expanded Meeting Planned|date=16 October 2024|publisher=Cyprus Mirror|access-date=17 October 2024}}</ref>