Nicosia:President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, has expressed optimism for positive developments regarding the ongoing Cyprus issue, following a meeting with UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin. The meeting, which took place on Tuesday afternoon, has raised expectations of progress in the coming hours.

According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides conveyed that the message from Holguin could create hopes and prospects for a positive outcome. While he refrained from providing specific details, he indicated that further information would be available after receiving an update himself.

During the discussion, President Christodoulides acknowledged that the possibility of positive developments might relate to the opening of crossing points. However, he emphasized that the discussions also covered other critical aspects outlined by the Secretary-General, including Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), methodology, and the essence of the negotiations.

The President noted the brief nature of the meeting, highlighting a specific update and response from Holguin. He urged patience, suggesting that diplomacy requires a few more hours to unfold. He affirmed that the UN Secretary-General is well-informed about the ongoing meetings and expressed the goal of achieving positive developments soon.

Cyprus has faced division since 1974 following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite repeated UN-led peace talks, a resolution has remained elusive due to Turkish intransigence. The latest negotiations in Crans-Montana in 2017 ended without conclusion. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres plans to convene another meeting in a broader format, pending adequate preparation, and has secured consensus from both sides and guarantor powers. Holguin is tasked with engaging the parties, while Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto serves as the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus.