Latest news with #Guterres
Scoop
an hour ago
- Politics
- Scoop
UN Chief Reports Progress In Cyprus Talks, Urges Swift Implementation Of Trust Measures
17 July 2025 Mr. Guterres was speaking to reporters after hosting Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar at the UN Headquarters in New York. ' Today's discussions were constructive. Both leaders reviewed the progress on the six initiatives they agreed to in March to build trust,' he said. The six measures include the creation of a technical committee on youth, initiatives on the environment and climate change, restoration of cemeteries, and an agreement on demining that will be closed once the final technical details are established. 'And discussions will continue on the remaining two,' the UN chief added, referring to the opening of four crossing points and solar energy in the buffer zone. New initiatives In addition, the leaders reached a common understanding on new initiatives, including a consultative body for civil society engagement, exchanging cultural artifacts, improving air quality monitoring, and addressing microplastic pollution. ' It is critical to implement these initiatives – all of them – as soon as possible for the benefit of all Cypriots, ' Mr. Guterres said. The Secretary-General also confirmed that he will meet both leaders again during the UN General Assembly's highlevel week in September. Another informal meeting in the same format is planned later this year. A long road ahead ' There's a long road ahead. And it is important to think about what the future can mean – for all Cypriots,' he said. ' But these steps clearly demonstrate a commitment to continuing a dialogue on the way forward and working on initiatives that benefit all Cypriots,' he added. Supporting dialogue The United Nations has been playing a central role in efforts towards a comprehensive and mutually acceptable settlement to the Cyprus issue, supporting dialogue between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders. While sufficient common ground has not been found to allow for the resumption of formal negotiations, engagement towards that end continues – including informal meetings convened by the Secretary-General and other top UN officials. Meanwhile, the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), deployed since 1964, remains on the ground, helping to maintain stability across the island.
The Star
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Cyprus leaders to continue discussions on confidence building, says UN
An abandoned outpost is seen near the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia, Cyprus July 17, 2025. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou (Reuters) -Leaders of ethnically split Cyprus have agreed to continue discussions towards confidence building, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday, in a dispute which has kept NATO partners Greece and Turkey at odds for decades. The Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities will press ahead with attempts to open new crossing points between the two sides and cooperating on solar energy initiatives, Guterres said after hosting the Cypriot leaders at U.N. headquarters in New York. "It is critical to implement all these initiatives as soon as possible, for the benefit of all Cypriots," Guterres said. The two sides had agreed in an encounter with Guterres earlier this year to open four additional crossing points, demine, establish a youth affairs committee, and launch environmental and solar energy projects. There are presently nine crossing points along a 180-km-long (116-mile-long) ceasefire line splitting the two sides. Guterres said there was a "question of itinerary" in relation to one of the new checkpoints opening but that there had been important progress on the issue. Cyprus was split more than 50 years ago in a Turkish invasion after a brief Greek-inspired coup, following years of sporadic violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Reunification talks collapsed in mid-2017 and have been in a stalemate since. The Cyprus conflict is a key source of disagreement between NATO allies Greece and Turkey, fiercely defensive of their respective kin on the island. (Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Cyprus leaders to continue discussions on confidence building, says UN
An abandoned outpost is seen near the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia, Cyprus July 17, 2025. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou Leaders of ethnically split Cyprus have agreed to continue discussions towards confidence building, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday, in a dispute which has kept NATO partners Greece and Turkey at odds for decades. The Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities will press ahead with attempts to open new crossing points between the two sides and cooperating on solar energy initiatives, Guterres said after hosting the Cypriot leaders at U.N. headquarters in New York. "It is critical to implement all these initiatives as soon as possible, for the benefit of all Cypriots," Guterres said. The two sides had agreed in an encounter with Guterres earlier this year to open four additional crossing points, demine, establish a youth affairs committee, and launch environmental and solar energy projects. There are presently nine crossing points along a 180-km-long (116-mile-long) ceasefire line splitting the two sides. Guterres said there was a "question of itinerary" in relation to one of the new checkpoints opening but that there had been important progress on the issue. Cyprus was split more than 50 years ago in a Turkish invasion after a brief Greek-inspired coup, following years of sporadic violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Reunification talks collapsed in mid-2017 and have been in a stalemate since. The Cyprus conflict is a key source of disagreement between NATO allies Greece and Turkey, fiercely defensive of their respective kin on the island. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Asia Air India probe into Boeing 787 fuel control switches finds no issues Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail
Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Syria, UN condemn Israeli attacks on army HQ in ‘strongest terms'
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the Israeli attacks on Damascus and Sweida come as part of 'a systematic Israeli policy to ignite tension and chaos and undermine security in Syria'. 'The attack is part of the Israeli aggression [and] represents a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law,' a ministry statement said. At least three were killed and 34 wounded in the air strikes. Syria said it holds Israel responsible for the escalation and reserves its 'right to defend our land and people through international law'. It called on the international community and the UN Security Council to take 'urgent action' against repeated Israeli aggression. Meanwhile, UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday the Israeli air strikes. "The Secretary-General further condemns Israel's escalatory airstrikes on Suweida, Daraa and in the center of Damascus, as well as reports of the IDF's redeployment of forces in the Golan," Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Development goals progress insufficient, says UN
NEW YORK: Ten years after the United Nations (UN) adopted its Sustainable Development Goals, it said more people now have access to the Internet, but major issues like hunger have worsened. UN member states committed in 2015 to pursuing 17 goals that range from ending extreme poverty and hunger to pursuing gender equality and clean energy by 2030. In a report published on Monday, the UN said 35 per cent of the objectives were advancing, while around half had stagnated and the rest were heading backwards. This scorecard, it said, showed that the progress was "insufficient". Among the most successful was improving access to electricity, with 92 per cent of the world connected by 2023. Internet usage has also risen from 40 per cent to 68 per cent worldwide in the last decade. Some 110 million more children and young people had entered school since 2015, the report said, while maternal mortality had fallen from 228 deaths per 100,000 births in 2015 to 197 in 2023. But some goals have receded despite this progress. In 2023, 757 million people (9.1 per cent of the world's population) were suffering from hunger, compared with 713 million (7.5 per cent) in 2019, the report said. More than 800 million people, around one in 10 people worldwide, are living in extreme poverty. "Eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 appears highly unlikely due to slow recovery from Covid-19 pandemic impacts, economic instability, climate shocks and sluggish growth in sub-Saharan Africa," the report said. UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that the world was facing a global development emergency. It was, he added, "an emergency measured in the over 800 million people still living in extreme poverty. In intensifying climate impacts. And in relentless debt service, draining the resources that countries need to invest in their people". However, Guterres struck a positive tone on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, saying that if they didn't exist, "many of these achievements would never have been reached".
