Published on 30 October 2026 - 18:23 GMT+1•Updated 18:41

The personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Maria Angela Holguin, reaffirmed the United Nations' commitment to continuing efforts to make progress on the Cyprus issue, saying: "We are pushing and we will keep pushing."

Holguin expressed optimism about the prospect of holding an informal five-party conference before the end of the year, following her meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace.

She said that efforts to achieve progress were ongoing, noting that her mandate from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was to explore every possible avenue to advance the process until the final day of his term.

The UN envoy referred to the need for progress in three key areas: confidence-building measures, the methodology for future talks, and substantive issues related to resolving the Cyprus dispute.

She also welcomed the fact that President Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman have been holding direct meetings. She explained that, during her meeting with Christodoulides, she had sought information about the outcome and substance of the two leaders' recent discussions.

Holguin stressed that efforts to restart talks on the Cyprus issue would continue, with the aim of creating the conditions for an informal five-party conference before the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, speaking at the 13th summit of the Organisation of Turkic States in Ankara, Erhürman said the Turkish Cypriot leadership in northern Cyprus would continue working towards a solution in close consultation and cooperation with Turkey.

Northern Cyprus is recognised as an independent state only by Turkey.