Nicosia: Cyprus and Greek Foreign Ministers George Gerapetritis and Konstantinos Kombos had a telephone conversation on Thursday afternoon during which they discussed developments in the Cyprus issue and the Mount Sinai monastery.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry announced via a post on X that the discussion between the two Foreign Ministers focused on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue following a meeting between Gerapetritis and Holguin. Additionally, they discussed regional cooperation issues. Gerapetritis also briefed his Cypriot counterpart on the meetings he conducted in Egypt concerning the Mount Sinai Monastery.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Efforts to resolve the conflict through UN-led peace talks have not succeeded due to Turkish intransigence. The most recent negotiation attempt in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in July 2017, ended without a conclusive agreement.
UN Secretary General Ant³nio Guterres has scheduled an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format for the end of July. This follows a similar meeting in Geneva on March 17-18, where both sides agreed on several initiatives, including opening crossing points and establishing a Technical Committee on Youth, among other efforts in the buffer zone and throughout the island.
In early May, Guterres appointed Mara Angela Holgun Cu©llar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus. She is tasked with reengaging the parties involved to work on the next steps for the Cyprus issue and to provide advice to him. Holgun had previously served as the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Cyprus from January to July 2024.
Moreover, the European Commission has designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus. Hahn is expected to contribute to the settlement process, working closely with Holgun.