Amman: The bicommunal Technical Committee on Youth is on a two-day retreat in Amman, convened by the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Maria ngela Holgun.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the retreat, supported by the Swedish Agency for Peace, Security and Development, FBA, aims to bring together young people from Cyprus to build trust and explore ideas to address common challenges. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite repeated UN-led peace talks, resolutions have remained elusive due to Turkish intransigence, with the latest negotiations in July 2017 at Crans-Montana ending without conclusion.
In 2025, the Secretary-General hosted informal meetings on Cyprus, first in March in Geneva and then in July in New York, followed by a tripartite meeting with Cyprus leaders in September during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week. An informal meeting in a broader format is anticipated later this year.
Mara ngela Holgun is tasked with engaging the parties in her role as the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus. Her efforts are complemented by Johannes Hahn, the former European Commissioner designated by the Commission as Special Envoy for Cyprus, who is also expected to contribute to the settlement process alongside Holgun.