Athens: Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis met today in Athens with the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, stressing that confidence building is a necessary condition for the resumption of the talks on the basis of the agreed framework under the auspices of the UN.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release stating that the purpose of Holguin’s visit was “to exchange views ahead of the upcoming expanded informal meeting, which is expected to take place in July.” Gerapetritis expressed Greece’s support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy on the Cyprus problem, as well as Greece’s willingness to contribute constructively, in concert with the Republic of Cyprus, towards finding a comprehensive, just, and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, in the framework of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
The Greek Foreign Minister noted “the importance of maintaining the momentum in which the Cyprus problem has entered and the need to continue the UN process with a view to implementing the agreements reached at the informal enlarged meeting in Geneva.” He emphasized that confidence building is a necessary condition for the resumption of the talks on the basis of the agreed framework under the auspices of the UN.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary General Ant³nio Guterres announced that an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format will be held at the end of July, following a similar meeting in Geneva on March 17-18. The two sides agreed to proceed with a number of initiatives, involving the opening of crossing points, the creation of a Technical Committee on Youth, and other initiatives in the buffer zone and throughout the island.
Guterres announced in early May the appointment of Mara Angela Holgun Cu©llar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus. She is tasked with reengaging with the parties in order to work on next steps on the Cyprus issue and advise him. Holgun completed a previous assignment as Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Cyprus from January to July 2024.
The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, in close cooperation with Holgun.