Newsroom
Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, expressed optimism following her latest round of meetings with Cypriot leaders, emphasizing that building genuine trust is key to achieving progress ahead of July’s informal expanded-format meeting.
In a written statement Saturday, Holguin said she held positive discussions with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, both of whom reaffirmed their willingness to advance specific initiatives agreed upon during the Geneva meeting in March. These initiatives, she noted, are viewed as achievable and beneficial to all Cypriots.
“I am here to offer support, foster dialogue, and bring all sides closer together,” she said, underlining her role in helping to fulfill the commitments made during the Geneva talks, which also included the participation of the Guarantor Powers.
Holguín also met with representatives of the two leaders, Gunes Onar and Menelaos Menelaou, in a trilateral format to review progress and explore practical solutions. She called these meetings “a constructive way to begin building trust.”
During her visit, Holguin discussed broader issues, including property disputes, and praised the work of several technical committees. She lauded the Technical Committee on Youth for its commitment to shaping a better future and highlighted initiatives by the Environment and Cultural Heritage Committees, such as cemetery restoration efforts.
She also met with the Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce, calling their cooperation a model for joint action on shared challenges and opportunities.
Holguin confirmed she will return to Cyprus ahead of the next informal UN-convened meeting, reaffirming her determination to carry out her mission “with respect and in the spirit of compromise.”
