The leaders of the political parties were briefed on Thursday by President Nikos Christodoulides, about the preparations for the expanded meeting in New York city on 16-17 July, expressed support to his efforts and agreed that they will not accompany him but will be in constant contact and a videoconference will take place, Government Spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis told the press after a meeting of the National Council.
It was also announced that UNSG personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin returns on the island Sunday and will be received by the President the next day in the morning.The Spokesperson stated once again that the aim is to have results towards the resumption of the peace talks.
He read out a joint statement of the Council expressing support to the President’s efforts and taking into account that he is departing for New York during the anniversaries of the Junta coup and the Turkish invasion, [the leaders] have decided that for practical reasons they will stay behind but will remain in constant coordination. He said, that this is the mere reason they are not coming to NYC and not because there are low or no expectations from the multilateral meeting.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
The informal meeting, which will take place at the headquarters of the international organisation in New York on July 16 and 17, was announced on Wednesday, by the Spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, who said that it would provide an opportunity to continue the dialogue and exchange views on the progress made since March.
UN Secretary General António Guterres announced that an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format would be held at the end of July, following a similar meeting in Geneva, on March 17-18. The two sides agreed to proceed with a number of initiatives, involving the opening of crossing points, the creation of a Technical Committee on Youth and other initiatives in the buffer zone and throughout the island.
Guterres announced in early May the appointment of María Angela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus, who is tasked to reengage with the parties in order to work on next steps on the Cyprus issue and advise him. Holguín completed a previous assignment as Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Cyprus from January to July 2024.
The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, in close cooperation with Holguín.
