Holguin to Visit Cyprus in Early September

According to the Greek Cypriot newspaper Fileleftheros, Holguin will arrive on September 1 and remain on the island until September 6. During her visit, she is expected to hold separate meetings with President Ersin Tatar of the TRNC and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides.

Holguin is also planning discussions with the respective chief negotiators, TRNC Presidential Special Representative Güneş Onar and Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou, and may conduct a joint meeting with them if agreed.

Greek Cypriot government spokesperson Konstantinos Letimbiotis stated that the appointment process for Holguin’s predecessor, Colin Stewart, is ongoing, and that the Greek Cypriot side has approved the UN-proposed new representative.

Additionally, the UN Security Council is expected to receive a letter soon from Guterres seeking approval for Senegalese diplomat Khassim Diagne, currently Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Mali, to serve as UN Personal Envoy for Cyprus and Head of the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP). Diagne has 25 years of experience in refugee protection, political affairs, and mission management.

Regarding the trilateral talks in New York, Letimbiotis said the Greek Cypriot side intends to participate constructively and with genuine political will, aiming to resume substantive negotiations. Parallel progress on previously agreed Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) in Geneva and New York is also expected.

The report also referenced recent developments following British MP Afzal Khan’s visit to the TRNC and his subsequent resignation as UK Turkey Trade Special Representative, including statements by President Ersin Tatar. Letimbiotis stressed that defending international law and legitimacy cannot be considered a coercive act and emphasized that the Greek Cypriot position remains guided by UN Security Council resolutions.

He declined to comment directly on the potential election of CTP leader Tufan Erhürman as TRNC president, reiterating that the goal remains the resumption of substantive negotiations with both sides presenting their arguments at the negotiation table.