Nicosia:President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, has expressed cautious optimism regarding potential positive developments on the Cyprus issue following his meeting with the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, at the Presidential Palace.

According to Cyprus News Agency, during his visit to an Elderly Care Home in Kaimakli, Nicosia, Christodoulides shared his belief in the possibility of progress on the Cyprus issue. This was in response to Holguin's statement that an expanded meeting could occur by the end of the year if progress is achieved.

Christodoulides described the meeting with Holguin as "very good," noting that they discussed the 19 points submitted by the Greek Cypriot side along with other ideas that might lead to positive developments. These discussions aim to resume talks that were interrupted in the summer of 2017. He emphasized the importance of having more than just the scheduled meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader and expressed cautious optimism based on their discussions.

When asked about whether the issue of convergences was discussed during his meeting with Holguin, Christodoulides chose not to disclose details, highlighting the critical nature of the ongoing processes. He stated that the cautious optimism is based on the discussions and hopes it will lead to tangible positive results.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third. Previous UN-led peace talks have not succeeded due to Turkish intransigence, with the last negotiations in July 2017 at Crans-Montana ending without resolution. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres plans to convene another broader meeting, contingent on adequate preparation and consensus from both sides and the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín is tasked with engaging the parties, while Raffaele Fitto serves as the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus.