Nicosia: The UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holgun, has concluded her series of discussions in Cyprus and is set to depart the island on Thursday. During her week-long stay, Holgun engaged with key leaders and committees in order to update UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ahead of his upcoming meeting with the Cypriot leaders in New York later this month.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Holgun held individual meetings with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. Holgun emphasized her ongoing commitment to resuming talks on the Cyprus issue. In addition, she met with the bicommunal Technical Committee on Youth and visited cemeteries in Tochni and Palekythro to discuss restoration progress. She also engaged with the Committee on Missing Persons and representatives from both Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Holgun’s schedule included discussions with Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot negotiators, Menelaos Menelaou and Gunes Onar. Although a joint meeting was suggested, separate discussions ultimately took place. Sources indicated that these meetings served as a comprehensive review in preparation for the leaders’ meeting with the Secretary-General on September 27 in New York.
Despite ongoing challenges, the sources noted progress from initiatives aimed at building trust, which were established during prior meetings in Geneva and New York. The United Nations remains committed to overcoming the deadlock and advancing the peace process.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of the northern third of the island. Numerous UN-led peace talks have not yet achieved resolution, largely due to Turkish intransigence. The most recent negotiation efforts, held in Crans-Montana in July 2017, did not yield successful outcomes.
Further efforts are anticipated, including a follow-up meeting later this year to build on initiatives agreed upon by the parties. Guterres has expressed a commitment to maintaining dialogue and will meet with Cypriot leaders during the General Assembly’s high-level week in September.
Discussions continue on several unresolved issues, such as the opening of crossing points and a solar energy project in the buffer zone. Cooperation on cultural artifact exchanges has also been agreed upon. Johannes Hahn, designated as the European Commission’s Special Envoy for Cyprus, will work closely with Holgun to support the settlement process.