UN envoy holds talks in Cyprus, aims to restart negotiations

The UN Secretary General's personal envoy on Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, is set to hold additional meetings in the coming days, according to President Nikos Christodoulides. After discussions at the Presidential Palace, Holguin expressed optimism, stating that numerous ideas were shared during the talks. Holguin emphasized the significance of her ongoing meetings in Cyprus, where she plans to engage with political parties, media representatives, and the Chamber of Commerce throughout the week.

Holguin briefed President Christodoulides on her recent discussions in Athens, Ankara, and London, focusing on finding common ground and outlining future negotiation steps. Despite public statements from London, no specific guarantor positions were conveyed during the meeting. Holguin's stay in Cyprus is scheduled until Sunday, with the president encouraging an extension for additional talks aimed at resuming negotiations.

President Christodoulides revealed that the discussions primarily involved updates on Holguin's contacts, with a commitment to holding another meeting soon. The government spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, affirmed Cyprus' readiness to resume negotiations promptly within the agreed framework, as outlined in UN Security Council resolutions.

Holguin, who recently met with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, highlighted the positive willingness to explore options. The ongoing diplomatic efforts come amid a longstanding division of Cyprus since 1974, with UN-led peace talks making incremental progress. The latest negotiations, held in July 2017, ended inconclusively in Switzerland. Holguin's appointment as the UN Secretary General's personal envoy aims to revitalize discussions and search for common ground in the Cyprus issue.

[Source: CNA]