Holguín Meets Christodoulides: UN Envoy Optimistic About Progress on Cyprus Issue

Holguín and Christodoulides met at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia on Saturday. According to a report by Kathimerini.com.cy, Holguín told reporters after the meeting that she was encouraged by recent developments.

Speaking to the press, she said the leaders’ decision to meet next week after a long period of stagnation was “a positive sign,” adding that she had drawn confidence from a meeting held a few weeks earlier in Amman with young people from both communities.

Holguín said she was pleased to be back on the island and had held a “very productive” meeting with Christodoulides. This, she noted, strengthened her belief that the process could now move forward constructively.

She added that preparations were underway for Thursday’s trilateral meeting and expressed hope that it would be “a very substantive and very fruitful” gathering.

Noting that the island’s leaders had not met in many years, Holguín said this alone was an indication that the moment was significant. “Now, if they succeed and move forward, society should support the leaders in this direction. I am quite optimistic, and we will see how the meeting on the 11th progresses,” she said.

Christodoulides said he was looking forward to the 11 December meeting, stressing that his side was ready to begin working in a substantive manner. Addressing Holguín, he added: “We rely on your support, on the support of the UN Secretary-General, on his political will and determination. I am ready to discuss the next steps.”

According to state broadcaster RIK, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis described the meeting between Christodoulides and Holguín as very good and constructive. He said Christodoulides had the opportunity to discuss both key issues relevant to restarting negotiations and the confidence-building measures agreed during the two multilateral meetings held earlier this year.