Holguín to Meet Leaders on 8 June; Greek Cypriot Press Reports Possible Three-Stage Roadmap

The newspaper Politis, which gave extensive coverage to the issue under the headlines “Key Document on the Cyprus Issue” and “Cyprus Issue: Three Steps on Developments,” wrote that Holguín’s visit is accompanied by cautious expectations that there may be some variation in the process.

The paper reported that UN Secretary-General António Guterres appears ready for one final effort on the Cyprus issue, noting that his mandate ends in December this year and that he is reportedly prepared to “delve deeper” into the process once again.

It added that remaining issues depend on the parties involved, while in light of the possibility of early elections in Turkey and Greece, and presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus in 2028, there is a “limited sense of urgency” within the international community regarding a settlement of the Cyprus issue.

Citing diplomatic sources, the report said Holguín will visit Cyprus before travelling to Athens and Ankara and will hold meetings with both sides on the island. She is expected to assess key issues and progress on confidence-building measures (CBMs).

No developments are expected regarding the opening of new crossing points, the paper said, while noting that Holguín will hold separate meetings with the leaders on 8 June, with the possibility of a trilateral meeting not ruled out.

The report said the main purpose of Holguín’s visit is to explore the positions of the sides regarding how a formal negotiation process could be restarted.

It added that preparatory work is ongoing, with the UN team in Cyprus holding contacts with both leaders and their representatives to exchange views on specific issues.

Holguín’s visit is expected to initiate a more substantive discussion on the framework that could allow negotiations to resume, the paper noted.

Three-stage roadmap

Under this subheading, Politis reported that all sides are waiting to see what Holguín will bring to the negotiating table.

One possibility, according to the report, is the development of a roadmap consisting of three gradual steps leading to a strategic agreement that could eventually result in a comprehensive settlement.

The first step would involve drafting a document that could pave the way for the resumption of negotiations. The report said this would be a broadly framed text designed to satisfy all parties without entering into detailed specifics. According to another diplomatic source cited, Holguín may either bring a draft of such a document or prepare it after hearing the views of the parties.

If the sides manage to agree on a common starting point for a new peace process, UN Secretary-General Guterres could convene a 5+1 conference with guarantor powers, possibly in July, to finalise the text.

This could take the form of a joint declaration or a UN Secretary-General statement that would formally restart negotiations, the report said.

The second step would involve further work on all elements of the initial document in order to produce a strategic agreement of a binding nature, which would provide greater detail and encompass a comprehensive settlement package.

The third step would be the achievement of a comprehensive solution, according to the same diplomatic source.

The report also noted that, according to diplomatic sources, another factor that could play a significant role in both the initiation and conclusion of talks is the European Union, which could act as a catalyst in the peace process.