Nicosia: The European Commission’s Special Envoy for Cyprus, Johannes Hahn, is arriving in Cyprus on Monday. This marks his first visit to the island since assuming office in May. Hahn’s agenda includes a meeting with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, along with other important engagements aimed at ‘listening carefully to his interlocutors’, as reported by Commission sources to CNA on Monday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Hahn is scheduled to meet President Christodoulides on Tuesday morning. On Monday, his itinerary includes discussions with the Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cyprus Colin Stewart, and Ambassadors from EU member states. Additionally, sources indicate Hahn will engage with the Turkish Cypriot community.
This visit marks Hahn’s first fact-finding mission to Cyprus following his appointment as Special Envoy. As announced last May, Hahn’s role involves reporting to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and contributing to the settlement process within the United Nations Framework, in collaboration with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, Mara ngela Holgun.
According to Commission sources, the purpose of Hahn’s visit is to ‘listen carefully to his interlocutors’ as part of his assigned role. The Cyprus process remains under the aegis of the UN.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of its northern third. Numerous rounds of UN-led peace talks have yet to produce results, largely due to Turkish intransigence. The most recent negotiations, held in July 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended without conclusion.
The UN Secretary-General announced an informal meeting on Cyprus, set for the end of July, following a similar meeting in Geneva on March 17-18. Both sides have agreed to pursue initiatives, such as opening crossing points and forming a Technical Committee on Youth, among others, across the buffer zone and the island.
UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres appointed Mara Angela Holgun Cu©llar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus earlier in May. Holgun, who previously served from January to July 2024, is tasked with reengaging the parties to work on next steps for the Cyprus issue and advise him accordingly.
The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to assist in the settlement process, working closely with Holgun.
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