The United Nations has announced a new round of diplomatic engagement on the Cyprus issue, with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín, set to convene a joint meeting between the two leaders on 28 January 2026. The move comes as part of ongoing efforts to sustain dialogue and follow up on previous contacts between the sides.
Visit to Cyprus and meeting schedule
According to a statement by the UN spokesperson in Cyprus, Holguín will visit the island from 26 to 29 January.
On 26 January, she will meet with the negotiators of both sides.
On 27 January, she will hold separate meetings with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhürman.
On 28 January, Holguín will convene a joint meeting between the two leaders, following up on their last meeting held on 11 December 2025.
Meetings in Brussels
Prior to her visit to Cyprus, Holguín concluded a visit to Brussels, where she met with the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, according to the UN statement.
The Brussels meetings form part of her broader mandate to engage with international stakeholders alongside direct contacts with the parties on the island.
Ongoing UN engagement on Cyprus
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied the island’s northern third. Numerous rounds of UN-led negotiations have taken place over the decades without reaching a settlement. The most recent full negotiating round, held in Crans-Montana in July 2017, ended without agreement.
In 2025, the UN Secretary-General hosted two informal meetings on Cyprus: one in March in Geneva and another in July in New York. A tripartite meeting with the two leaders was also held in late September 2025, on the margins of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week.
Role of international envoys
Holguín’s mandate focuses on engaging with the parties and maintaining momentum in the process. In parallel, former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, designated by the European Commission as Special Envoy for Cyprus, is also expected to contribute to efforts toward a settlement, in coordination with the UN envoy.
The upcoming meetings are seen as part of continued international efforts to keep channels of communication open and explore prospects for renewed progress on the Cyprus issue.