Nicosia: The Republic of Cyprus welcomes the appointment of Khassim Diagne as the UNSG’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and looks forward to a close and constructive cooperation with him within the framework of the United Nations mission, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Thursday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, on 3 September 2025, the United Nations announced the Secretary-General’s decision to appoint Diagne of Senegal as the new Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Speaking to journalists at the Presidential Palace, during his media briefing, Letymbiotis said that Khassim Diagne, who succeeds Colin Stewart, has more than 25 years of experience in international affairs and senior leadership positions within the United Nations system, while he is currently serving as Ad Interim UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Mali, a position he has held since October 2024. “The Republic of Cyprus welcomes Mr. Diagne’s appointment and looks forward to close and constructive cooperation with him in the framework of the United Nations mission in Cyprus,” Letymbiotis noted.
Asked when the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, is expected to arrive to Cyprus, the Spokesman said that “we have been informed that Ms. Holguin’s visit to our country has been rescheduled and will take place before the President of the Republic’s trip to New York. Further information regarding the date of her arrival to Cyprus and her meetings will be provided through official UN announcements.”
Moreover, Letymbiotis was asked about steps taken by the government regarding the expansion of illegal settlement in the occupied areas of the island. “The Republic of Cyprus is taking all necessary steps to counter Turkey’s attempts to expand settlement activities in the occupied areas,” he said, adding that the government is continuously following this issue, as well as “any information or reports referring to further settlement efforts by the occupation power, which may also be linked to the illegal usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties.”
He added that “we are taking all necessary steps, which are often not made public, as active diplomacy requires, in order to counter Turkey’s efforts to expand settlement in our occupied areas.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
A second informal meeting on Cyprus in broader format was held in New York, on July 16-17, 2025. Another meeting is anticipated later this year, to follow up on initiatives, agreed by the parties, which the UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres said they demonstrate a commitment to continuing a dialogue on the way forward. Guterres also announced that he would meet jointly with Cyprus leaders during the General Assembly high-level week, in September.
The two sides in Cyprus continue discussions on outstanding issues, including the opening of crossing points and a solar energy installation in the buffer zone. They also agreed to cooperate on a number of issues, including the exchange of cultural artifacts, while Maria Angela Holgun, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, will continue her efforts.
The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, in close cooperation with Holgun.