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16 October, 2026
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has responded to a letter sent by President Tufan Erhürman regarding attempts by the Greek Cypriot side to obstruct cultural, sporting, political and diplomatic activities involving Turkish Cypriots, expressing concern that such developments are disheartening and contrary to efforts aimed at strengthening mutual trust.
According to information provided by the Presidency, UN Secretary-General Guterres responded in a letter dated 16 October to the letter sent by President Tufan Erhürman on 28 August.
Stating that he had taken careful note of concerns regarding developments affecting the cultural, sporting, political and diplomatic activities involving Turkish Cypriots, UN Secretary-General expressed that these are contrary to initiatives aimed at strengthening mutual trust.
In his letter, President Erhürman had drawn attention to attempts targeting activities involving Turkish Cypriots; aimed at obstructing cultural and sporting organizations such as music festivals and the FC Barcelona football camp, as well as diplomatic contacts and had conveyed to the UN Secretary-General the negative atmosphere created as a result of these actions.
Referring in his reply to his most recent meeting with President Erhürman in New York and his visit to Cyprus in July, Guterres underlined the importance of continued contacts, cooperation and trust-building efforts between the two sides.
Furthermore, Secretary-General Guterres noted that he has emphasized once again to all relevant actors that actions hindering efforts to build trust, including the cancellation of events, are contrary to collective efforts.