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The United Nations' personal envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, has warned that one of the biggest casualties of the failed peace talks in Crans Montana is the loss of a shared vision for the island’s future.
In an interview with Politis, Holguin said the concept of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, long seen as the cornerstone of a Cyprus settlement, is no longer a common point of reference for both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
“This was one of the consequences of what happened at Crans Montana,” Holguin said, referring to the 2017 talks that ended without a deal. “We’re now in a situation where both sides are not working from the same playbook.”
While the United Nations Security Council still backs a federation-based model as the official framework, the lack of shared commitment to that idea on the ground is increasingly evident, she said.
“It takes two to tango”
More than four years after the informal 5+1 meeting in 2021, Holguin admitted the gap between the two sides’ positions remains wide.
“That reality must be acknowledged,” she said, adding, “As we know, it takes two to tango.”
But Holguin also highlighted a deeper concern: the growing social disconnect between the two communities. Beyond political negotiations, she said, there is a widening gap at the grassroots level that threatens future reconciliation efforts.
“This is the situation we face today,” she said, stressing that rebuilding trust must be the first step before any meaningful political progress can be made.
Holguin reaffirmed her mission: to help both sides move forward “step by step” by identifying areas of mutual interest and trust. “That’s the priority the UN Secretary-General has given me,” she said.
*With information from CNA
