Nicosia: UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguín Cuéllar, who has returned to Cyprus following her reappointment, will be received on Saturday at 1030 (local time) by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides. Holguín will remain on the island until May 31 and is scheduled to meet with various key figures involved in the Cyprus issue.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Holguín will meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Monday, May 26, also at 1030, in the occupied areas of Cyprus. Additionally, she will engage with representatives of the leaders and other stakeholders to discuss the ongoing situation in Cyprus.
During her stay on the island, Holguín is also expected to meet with the bi-communal Technical Committee on Youth at the Ledra Palace. After her discussions with the leaders, she plans to address the media, providing insights into her schedule and the next steps in the peace process.
It remains unclear whether Holguín will have a second meeting wi
th the two leaders during her visit, as this will depend on the outcomes of her initial meetings. Following her visit to Cyprus, Holguín will travel to the three guarantor powers: Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, a resolution has not been reached. The most recent negotiations in July 2017 at Crans-Montana ended without agreement. The UN Secretary-General announced plans for an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format at the end of July, following a similar meeting in Geneva in March.
The appointment of María Angela Holguín as the Personal Envoy on Cyprus by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in early May aims to re-engage the parties and advise on the next steps. Holguín had previously served in this role from January to July 2024. The European Commission has also designated Johannes Hahn as Special Envoy for Cyprus to assist in the settlement process, wo
rking closely with Holguín.