UN envoy Holguin meets Cypriot leaders and Turkish ambassador Başçeri in Cyprus talks

Maria Angela Holguin, the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy on Cyprus, drew attention with a series of bilateral contacts since last Friday. On Friday she met Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, and on Monday she met Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman. This morning, unexpectedly, she met Turkey’s ambassador in Nicosia, Ali Murat Başçeri, at the Turkish Embassy.

Shortly afterwards, Holguin met Christodoulides again. Christodoulides said the contact was very short and served as a special briefing and response, adding that Ankara had conveyed a message to Holguin through the ambassador, which he said created hope for positive steps. Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, however, described the Holguin–Başçeri meeting as “unacceptable” and “unfortunate”.

Letymbiotis said the meeting contradicted UN Security Council Resolution 550 and claimed it had been arranged so that Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay could pass on a message. Holguin is expected to meet Erhürman again tomorrow, and attention has now turned to that meeting.