The UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, held a series of meetings on Tuesday, including talks with Turkey’s “ambassador” in the north, Ali Murat Başçeri, and DISY leader Annita Demetriou.
A meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides was scheduled for the afternoon, ahead of the trilateral meeting with both leaders on 9 November.
Meeting at the Turkish “embassy” in the north
Ms Holguin, who is on the island for a series of contacts, visited Mr Başçeri at the Turkish “embassy” in the northern part of Nicosia.
According to reports in the north, the two exchanged views on the Cyprus problem. No further details of the discussion were made public.
Annita Demetriou: concern over lack of progress
Ms Holguin also met DISY President Annita Demetriou on Tuesday at the party’s offices in Nicosia.
Ms Demetriou said she had been briefed by the UN envoy on her efforts and her latest contacts in Cyprus. According to a DISY announcement, she expressed serious concern that the required progress is not being made towards convening a new informal enlarged 5+1 meeting before the end of the UN Secretary-General’s term.
“The current juncture must be used. Ms Holguin is in Cyprus and the coming days must lead to concrete results,” she said.
“The negotiating acquis must not be lost. The prospect of a solution must not be lost,” she added.
Call for EU pressure on Turkey
The DISY leader said more substantive involvement by the European Union is needed at this time, with a clear message and pressure on Turkey. She said that if Ankara wants to see its European aspirations move forward, it must abandon its intransigence and contribute constructively to the ongoing effort.
She said the opening of Famagusta could also be discussed in this context.
“The time for observations has passed. Initiatives and strategic moves are needed, but above all, results,” she said.
Second meeting with President Christodoulides
President Nikos Christodoulides was scheduled to meet Ms Holguin at 3.15pm on Tuesday, according to the Presidency. It is their second meeting during her current visit, after Friday, 30 October.
The President said on Monday that he expects answers both to the specific proposals submitted by the Greek Cypriot side and to the issues discussed with Ms Holguin.
The UN envoy met Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman on Monday.
Occupied municipalities on Saturday
On Saturday, 7 November, Ms Holguin will meet representatives of the occupied municipalities at 4.15pm at the old Nicosia airport.
Famagusta Mayor Simos Ioannou, who chairs the Committee of Occupied Municipalities, said they will ask for the return of the fenced-off area of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants as a confidence-building measure. He said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the meeting.
Trilateral meeting on 9 November
The envoy’s contacts are part of the preparations for the trilateral meeting on Monday, 9 November, which will bring together Ms Holguin, President Christodoulides and Mr Erhürman.
