Prospects for a settlement in Cyprus continue to fade with no progress achieved in finding common ground between the two sides or restarting negotiations, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in his latest report submitted to the UN Security Council (UNSC) on his Good Offices Mission and the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

In his report presented to the UN Security Council that covers the period between June 15 and December 12, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres drew a bleak picture concerning prospects of a solution on the island.

The UN chief drew attention to the absence of a common ground for the resumption of talks, underlining the importance that both sides refrain from actions that would serve to raise tensions.

Guterres in his report also gave room to the Turkish Cypriot side’s concerns and reactions to the lifting of the US arms embargo imposed on the Greek Cypriot administration as well as the draft agreement presented by Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu concerning the UN’s operations in the TRNC.

The UN Secretary General pointed out that trade volume between the two sides within the framework of the Green Line Regulation remained modest.

Guterres also said he was concerned over the lack of meaningful interaction between both sides, calling on all relevant actors to take constructive approaches in resolving their differences.