**Holguin to Travel to Brussels and Ankara Ahead of Guterres’ Visit to Cyprus**
United Nations envoy for the Cyprus problem, Maria Angela Holguin, is set to embark on a diplomatic mission to Brussels and Ankara as preparations intensify for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ upcoming visit to Cyprus next week. Holguin's travels are aimed at facilitating discussions surrounding the long-standing Cyprus issue, with critical meetings scheduled in both cities.
In Brussels, Holguin will meet with Raffaele Fitto, the newly appointed envoy for the Cyprus problem from the European Commission, on Wednesday afternoon. Reports indicate that she may also engage with European Council President Antonio Costa during her time in the Belgian capital. These discussions are expected to focus on the current state of affairs regarding the Cyprus problem and the role of the European Union in the ongoing negotiations.
Following her meetings in Brussels, Holguin will travel to Ankara, where she is anticipated to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday. According to Turkey’s Anka news agency, the agenda for this meeting will likely include an assessment of the recent surge in diplomatic contacts concerning the Cyprus issue, as well as discussions on the positions of both sides and the topics that will be addressed during Guterres’ visit.
Guterres is scheduled to arrive in Cyprus on Monday, where he will engage in a series of meetings with key political figures. His visit will commence with an informal dinner with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on Monday evening. The following morning, Guterres will hold separate meetings with both leaders at their official residences, before visiting the Committee on Missing Persons later that day. On Wednesday, he will convene a tripartite meeting with Christodoulides and Erhurman.
The timing of Holguin’s travels and Guterres’ visit coincides with a renewed push for the resumption of negotiations aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem. Holguin’s return to the island is part of broader efforts to organize an enlarged meeting that would involve the two Cypriot leaders, the three guarantor powers—Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom—and the UN. While both leaders have expressed a desire for such a meeting, they have also emphasized that it should not be seen as a mere formality.
Erhurman, in a recent speech marking the anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, underscored the importance of having a results-oriented approach to negotiations. He stated, “We do not want negotiations for the sake of negotiations, or a five-plus-one meeting for the sake of a five-plus-one meeting,” emphasizing the need for tangible outcomes.
Christodoulides echoed this sentiment, asserting that the goal of any enlarged meeting should be the resumption of talks. However, he also pointed out that the success of these efforts largely depends on Turkey's willingness to engage constructively in the process.
Holguin has called on the people of Cyprus to “seize this historic opportunity to negotiate a lasting solution.” She noted that Guterres is currently assessing potential next steps that could encourage both parties to take concrete actions towards achieving a final resolution to the Cyprus issue.
As diplomatic efforts gather momentum, the upcoming meetings and discussions are seen as critical in shaping the future of negotiations regarding Cyprus. The involvement of both the UN and the European Union highlights the international community's interest in facilitating a peaceful resolution to the longstanding division of the island.
The developments leading up to Guterres’ visit signal a renewed commitment to addressing the complexities of the Cyprus problem, with hopes that the upcoming discussions will pave the way for meaningful dialogue and progress.