Christodoulides and Holguín meet ahead of Guterres’s Cyprus visit

Politics Antonio GuterresCyprus problemMaria Angela Holguin CuellarNikos ChristodoulidesTop News Christodoulides and Holguín meet ahead of Guterres’s Cyprus visit Xristodoulidis Me Olgkin 1536x1014 Relevant News Christodoulides and Holguín meet ahead of Guterres’s Cyprus visit 27 July 2026 Overnight pharmacies on Monday, July 27 27 July 2026 Man denies guilt over March Larnaca hostage situation 27 July 2026 newsroom 27 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber President Nikos Christodoulides received the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy on the Cyprus problem, María Ángela Holguín, at the Presidential Palace today, ahead of a visit by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis told reporters after the meeting that Guterres will hold talks with the President and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman tomorrow morning, attend a joint dinner with both leaders tomorrow evening, and hold a joint meeting with them the following day. He described the visit as “the beginning, the springboard that will lead to the convening of an expanded meeting.” Holguín briefed the President on a series of recent contacts, including a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and has since travelled on to meet Erhürman, Letymbiotis said. Asked whether Holguín’s account of her talks with the Turkish side left room for optimism, Letymbiotis said the government remained realistic given the challenges posed by Turkey’s stance. He noted that Guterres and Fidan held a phone call the night before, and said the President would discuss Turkey’s willingness to realign with international law directly with Guterres tomorrow. Letymbiotis said the government’s core position remains that the only basis for a settlement is the one set out in the UN Security Council resolutions: a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality. He said this is the common ground between the sides, the solution backed by the Secretary-General and the international community, and the only mandate under which the UN and its envoy operate. He cautioned that hopes should not exceed what Turkey’s long-standing position allows, but said the government would seize any opening for progress, and expects Guterres’s visit to clarify his thinking on next steps, including a possible multilateral conference. Asked about reports that Fidan had pushed for a two-state solution in his meeting with Holguín, Letymbiotis said he would not speak on Holguín’s behalf about what was discussed in that meeting. He added that any proposal falling outside the bizonal, bicommunal federation framework cannot be considered constructive. On whether Guterres intends to update the Crans-Montana framework, Letymbiotis said the government’s goal remains resuming negotiations from where they broke off at Crans-Montana, preserving the gains of the previous process. He noted that the key question is whether Turkey, which he said has held a declared two-state position since 2021, has a genuine will to realign with the Security Council resolutions. Asked whether Cyprus is prepared to discuss “constructive ambiguities” within a settlement framework, Letymbiotis said he could not give weight to reports that Holguín herself has denied. He added that the President has ruled out any ambiguities, creative or otherwise, or any provisions pointing to solutions outside the agreed framework. He said the government’s red lines, safeguarding the Republic of Cyprus, the agreed framework under the Security Council resolutions and alignment with EU law, have been stated clearly and consistently in every meeting, and reflect the position of the international community and the European Union as well as Cyprus. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Overnight pharmacies on Monday, July 27 Man denies guilt over March Larnaca hostage situation Larnaca acts over giant billboard near kindergarten Police probe Paphos Municipality hiring complaints under suspended Phedonos People mourn in Berlin after vehicle drives into CSD Pride event Stranded tourists evacuated from China’s famed Jiuzhaigou World Heritage site after mudslides, heavy rain Man critical after car hits e-scooter, flees scene in Limassol Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.