Nicosia: The Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus, Mara ngela Holgun, met on Tuesday with the Technical Committee on Youth, according to a message posted on X by the UN in Cyprus.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Holgun, who is in Cyprus for contacts, conducted separate meetings last Friday and Monday with the Cyprus President and the Turkish Cypriot leaders. These meetings were held in anticipation of their upcoming joint meeting with the UN Secretary-General later this month in New York.
The message emphasized that engaging youth is crucial for addressing shared challenges on the island. It highlighted the importance of youth-driven dialogue in tackling common issues collaboratively.
Cyprus has experienced division since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island. Numerous UN-led peace talks have so far been unsuccessful, primarily due to Turkish intransigence. The most recent round of negotiations, held in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended without a resolution.
A second informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format took place in New York on July 16-17, 2025. Another meeting is expected later this year to follow up on initiatives agreed upon by the parties. The UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres stated that these initiatives demonstrate a commitment to continuing dialogue on the way forward. Guterres also announced plans for a joint meeting with Cyprus leaders during the General Assembly high-level week in September.
Discussions between the two sides in Cyprus continue on several outstanding issues, including the opening of crossing points and a solar energy installation in the buffer zone. They have also agreed to collaborate on various matters, such as the exchange of cultural artifacts. Mara ngela Holgun, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, continues her efforts in this regard.
The European Commission has appointed Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to assist in the settlement process, working closely with Holgun.