Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides has called for a more engaged United Nations special envoy who can maintain “continuous contacts” ahead of critical peace talks scheduled for July, clarifying Nicosia’s position following Turkish Cypriot claims of Greek Cypriot opposition to the reappointment of María Angela Holguín Cuéllar.
The president’s comments come ahead of a pivotal meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Wednesday, their first encounter since discussions in Geneva.
In an exclusive interview with philenews, Christodoulides outlined specific expectations for the UN envoy role.
“What interests us and what we want is a personality who will have the ability to maintain continuous contacts in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Brussels, to prepare the ground with the aim of announcing the resumption of negotiations by the next multilateral meeting in July,” Christodoulides said.
The president emphasised that contacts should be “frequent and regular” given the limited timeframe before July, adding that the appointee should ideally focus exclusively on the Cyprus issue.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate Christodoulides was dissatisfied with Holguín’s previous approach. Despite her promises to establish an office and staff on the island that would work during her absence, these commitments were not fulfilled.
Her visits were limited in number, with observers noting she spent more time with individuals who had no substantial involvement in efforts to restart negotiations. Her last scheduled visit to Cyprus did not take place after Tatar refused to discuss substantive aspects of the Cyprus problem.
Nicosia’s approach ahead of Holguín’s expected reappointment sends a clear message through the UN Secretary-General that more focus and additional hours of discussions with both sides are expected this time, alongside increased diplomatic activity between all stakeholders both in Cyprus and in the four relevant capitals.
Ιf Holguín moves in the direction requested by Nicosia, she could produce results before the next informal Geneva conference scheduled for late July. Such activity would also put pressure on the Turkish Cypriot side to stop avoiding dialogue.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Monument to Freedom in Nicosia yesterday, Christodoulides stated: “We are working methodically and intensively to utilise even the smallest glimmer of hope, to create the conditions to put the Cyprus issue on a negotiation path that will lead to liberation, reunification, and a final solution”.
Meanwhile, in the occupied areas of Cyprus, Tatar appears to have different priorities. He has already begun campaigning for “elections” scheduled for October, with analysts expecting him to maintain hardline positions ahead of the vote, complicating United Nations efforts.
