**Holguin Meets EU Cyprus Envoy Fitto and von der Leyen in Brussels**
Brussels – On Wednesday, Maria Angela Holguin, the personal envoy of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for Cyprus, engaged in discussions with Raffaele Fitto, the European Union's newly appointed envoy for Cyprus and European Commission Executive Vice-President, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The meetings took place at the European Commission headquarters and were characterized by a positive atmosphere, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Holguin and Fitto emphasized the importance of maintaining close coordination between the United Nations and the European Commission, agreeing to remain in direct contact moving forward. The discussions highlighted the value of the Commission's communication channels with Turkey, reaffirming support for Guterres' ongoing efforts to address the complexities of the Cyprus issue.
Further developments are anticipated following Guterres' visit to Cyprus, scheduled for the end of July. This visit is expected to provide additional context and momentum to the ongoing discussions regarding the future of Cyprus.
Notably, there was no meeting arranged with European Council President Antonio Costa, as he is currently away from Brussels. However, Holguin is set to meet with Costa's diplomatic adviser, Anna-Maria Boura, on Thursday. The details of Holguin's complete schedule of meetings with EU officials prior to her departure for Ankara on Friday have not been disclosed.
On Tuesday evening, Holguin also met with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Following their discussions, Kallas reiterated the European Union's steadfast commitment to supporting the UN-led process aimed at achieving a comprehensive resolution to the Cyprus issue.
The meetings in Brussels signal a continued interest and engagement from both the United Nations and the European Union in addressing the longstanding challenges facing Cyprus. As diplomatic efforts progress, stakeholders remain hopeful for a constructive path forward in resolving the island's division.