The push for a tripartite meeting involving the leaders of Cyprus, Turkey, and the United Nations remains uncertain, as the initiative led by the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy, María Angela Holguín Cuéllar, appears to be faltering. The only positive response has come from Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides, who quickly announced his willingness to engage in such a meeting. In contrast, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar has firmly rejected the idea of attending a tripartite summit.
Holguín had aimed to arrange a meeting in August to allow ample time for discussion, but it now seems that the likelihood of a formal invitation from UN Secretary-General António Guterres to the two leaders is diminishing.
Diplomatic Observations
Diplomatic sources suggest it would be surprising if an invitation for a tripartite meeting were extended by the Secretary-General, especially for a gathering involving Guterres, Christodoulides, and Tatar within August. Instead, such meetings might occur in September during the UN General Assembly in New York. However, if the situation in Cyprus remains unchanged, these meetings are unlikely to produce significant progress.
Reports from last Monday indicated that Guterres preferred to meet the leaders in August due to his busy schedule in September, which would limit the time available for discussing the Cyprus issue. An August meeting was seen as offering more opportunities for in-depth discussions.
Holguín’s Efforts and Reactions
The tripartite meeting initiative, according to information from CNA in New York, was undertaken by UN envoy María Angela Holguín Cuéllar. This underscores her active involvement in the Cyprus issue despite objections from the Turkish side. Olguín reportedly reached out multiple times to both leaders to arrange a meeting in August, suggesting specific dates for the talks.
Holguín’s outreach to New York received a positive response only from President Christodoulides, while Tatar maintained his rigid stance, setting his conditions for any meeting. Christodoulides had hinted at potential progress behind the scenes and even mentioned the possibility of developments within August.
Despite Christodoulides’ anticipation of an official invitation from the Secretary-General, Tatar’s refusal ensured the effort remained on the brink of failure.
The critical question now is whether the UN will explicitly address the reasons behind the failure of the tripartite initiative or provide a general statement indicating that attempts were made without result. A general statement might imply shared responsibility between the parties for the unsuccessful outcome of Holguín’s efforts.
