Washington: Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis departs for the US on Monday to take part in the 40th Annual PSEKA (International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus) Conference in Washington, DC from June 10-12. The Spokesman will represent the President of the Republic and Cyprus government.
According to Cyprus News Agency, during his stay in the US capital, Letymbiotis will attend a working luncheon on Tuesday, June 10th, during which, among others, the leadership of diaspora organizations, Senators, and Members of Congress will speak. On his part, the Government Spokesman will provide a detailed briefing on developments in the Cyprus issue and the efforts of President Christodoulides to restart negotiations based on the agreed framework, from the point where they were interrupted. He will also develop the government’s positions, initiatives, and actions toward this direction.
The following day, the Government Spokesman will attend a working breakfast with Members of Congress and will meet with American Senators. The Spokesman will also be the main speaker at an official dinner to be hosted on June 11th by the leadership of PSEKA.
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.
UN Secretary General announced that an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format will be held at the end of July, following a similar meeting in Geneva, on March 17-18. The two sides agreed to proceed with a number of initiatives, involving the opening of crossing points, the creation of a Technical Committee on Youth and other initiatives in the buffer zone and throughout the island.
The UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres announced in early May the appointment of Mara Angela Holgun Cu©llar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus, who is tasked to reengage with the parties in order to work on next steps on the Cyprus issue and advise him. Holgun completed a previous assignment as Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Cyprus from January to July 2024.
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.