Brussels: The UN Secretary General’s personal envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, will engage in diplomatic meetings in London and Brussels on July 1-2, CNA learns. Holguin’s visit aims to advance discussions on the ongoing Cyprus issue, with significant meetings planned with key European officials.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Holguin’s itinerary includes a meeting in London on July 1st with UK Minister of State for Europe, Stephen Doughty. Following this, she will proceed to Brussels to confer with European Commission’s special envoy for Cyprus, Johannes Hahn. These meetings are part of the broader effort to prepare for an informal meeting on Cyprus, planned to occur in New York under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General in the latter half of July.
In anticipation of these discussions, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides will convene the National Council on Thursday to brief political parties on the latest developments and preparations for the upcoming informal meeting. The Cyprus issue has remained unresolved since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, a resolution has been elusive, largely due to Turkish intransigence, with the last major negotiations in Crans-Montana in 2017 ending without agreement.
UN Secretary General Ant³nio Guterres announced the informal meeting in New York as a follow-up to a similar gathering in Geneva in March. During that meeting, both sides agreed to several initiatives, including the opening of crossing points and the establishment of a Technical Committee on Youth to foster collaboration across the island.
In May, Guterres appointed Mara Angela Holgun Cu©llar as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus, to reengage the parties involved and advise on subsequent steps. Holgun, who previously served in this capacity, is working closely with Johannes Hahn, designated by the European Commission as Special Envoy for Cyprus, to facilitate the settlement process.