The key facts
- Maria Angela Holguin expressed optimism about an informal five-party conference by the end of 2026
- Three areas were named: confidence-building measures, the methodology of future negotiations, and substantive issues of the settlement
- Tufan Erhürman, at the Organization of Turkic States summit, said work would continue in close cooperation with Turkey
UN envoy: 'We will keep pushing'
Maria Angela Holguin, the personal envoye of the UN Secretary-General, confirmed the organization's readiness to continue working on the Cyprus issue, stating: 'We are pushing and we will keep pushing.' According to her, the mandate from António Guterres implies using every possible avenue to advance the process until the last day of his term in office. Euronews reported this.
Three areas and direct meetings of leaders
After meeting with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, at the presidential palace, Holguin expressed optimism about holding an informal five-party conference by the end of 2026. She named three key areas where progress is needed: confidence-building measures, the methodology of future negotiations, and substantive issues of resolving the Cyprus dispute. The envoy also welcomed direct meetings between Christodoulides and the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Tufan Erhürman, and noted that during the meeting she had asked for information about the outcomes and content of the recent discussions between the two leaders.
Northern Cyprus's position
Speaking at the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Ankara, Erhürman said that the leadership of the Turkish Cypriots in northern Cyprus will continue working on a settlement in close coordination and cooperation with Turkey. Northern Cyprus is recognized as an independent state only by Turkey — this circumstance remains one of the contexts of the negotiation process, although the publication itself does not directly link it to Erhürman's position.
