Maria Angela Holguín Cuéllar, who continues her round of contacts in Cyprus, is attempting, through meetings with political forces, to record their assessments of what went wrong in Crans Montana. That failure seems to make both herself and the United Nations particularly cautious about their next moves in Cyprus.According to information from Phileleftheros, the personal envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, during her meetings so far with the leaderships of both sides as well as party leaders, has made it clear that she is not rushing to push either the international organization or the leaders to the negotiating table. The same information suggests that during her discussions, Holguín emphasized that she has no intention of involving the United Nations in a process that lacks momentum.In her meetings on both sides of the dividing line, Holguín, through her discussions, seeks to outline the desires of each side. But also, how she sees the responsibilities of the other side because the resumption in Cyprus is not possible.According to the general secretary of AKEL, Holguín has, in his opinion, the correct position that whatever happened is not erased but everyone should focus on the present. Neophytos Charalambides, vice president of DIKO, stated in Kathimerini that Holguín attempted to conduct a fact-finding mission. At the same time, he emphasised that Holguín wanted to be informed about how much the confidence-building measures could positively contribute to the effort. “DIKO expressed the opinion that they could, but we feel that these are being attempted to be exploited by the other side in a way that is not unifying but divisive.” According to G. Georgiou, Marinos Sizopoulou, the leader of EDEK, did not only talk about 2017 but also made a historical review of Turkey’s approach.In the occupied territories, the UN envoy heard from the Secretary-General of the National Unity Party, Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, stating that after the election of Ersin Tatar to the leadership of the Turkish Cypriots, the chapter of the federation closed and will not reopen. Hasipoğlu added that “they are ready to sit at the negotiating table to negotiate the way in which the two existing states on the island will cooperate, confirming their inherent rights.”The Republican Turkish Party (RTP) presented opposing views at the meeting with Holguín. RTP supports efforts to create common ground required for the resumption of official negotiations and is ready for all kinds of cooperation, RTP President Tufan Erhürman told Holguín. In a statement, Erhürman added that they had a productive dialogue on the negotiation methods necessary to overcome the ongoing deadlock and establish a process focused on the goal of a comprehensive solution.He also described Holguín’s contact with various parts of society as valuable, with RTP President stating that the Turkish Cypriot community is ready for a sustainable, safe, permanent, and inclusive solution based on political equality. Tufan Erhürman spoke to Holguín about the much-anticipated – as he said – unilateral measures of President Christodoulides for the Turkish Cypriot community, the negative approach to the issue of nationality of children from mixed marriages, and the “violation of human rights” in it, saying that actions that poison the climate of trust between the two communities should be avoided.negotiations. contacts, assessments, negotiations
