Nicosia: The Government considers the visit of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, to Brussels, as very useful and important, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis told CNA.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Spokesperson emphasized the significance of Holguin's meeting with EU institutions, highlighting the potential role of the EU in supporting the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin. Letymbiotis noted that although the visit was initially scheduled for June 28, it has been postponed to July 13.
He further mentioned that there is a strong connection between the progress on EU-Turkey issues and the Cyprus issue, as outlined in the conclusions of the April 2024 European Council. Letymbiotis stressed that the EU now has the tools and incentives to advance both issues simultaneously, especially in light of the new initiative for Cyprus by the UN Secretary General.
The NATO Summit, set to take place in Turkey on July 7 and 8, was also mentioned as an important upcoming event. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey's invasion and occupation of the northern third of the island. Despite numerous rounds of UN-led peace talks, no resolutions have been reached due to Turkish intransigence, with the last round of negotiations in July 2017 at Crans-Montana ending without conclusion.
After informal meetings in 2025 and a hiatus of several months, efforts are being made to convene a new meeting in a broader format as the term of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres approaches its end. Mara Angela Holgun, Guterres' Personal Envoy on Cyprus, has been tasked with engaging the parties to facilitate progress.