UN’s Holguin meets with Unficyp head

The UN secretary-general’s personal envoy on Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin began her meetings on the island on Monday, discussing issues with Unficyp head Colin Stewart first.

Holguin is set to meet with President Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday and after with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar.

Speaking in an interview Tatar’s party UBP leader Oguzhan Hasipoglu agreed with opposition CTP general secretary Asim Akansoy that Holguin’s time in Cyprus should be limited.

Commenting on Holguin’s contacts, Hasipoglu said that her visit will not differ from the contacts of her predecessors during which no positive result was achieved.

He pointed out that there are different positions expressed by the two sides to sit at the negotiating table and reiterated the Turkish position that the ‘Greek Cypriot administration’ is not willing to share the administration and wealth of the island with the ‘TRNC’.

In his own remarks, Akansoy said that rational moves must be made to protect the rights and interests of Turkish Cypriots in the contacts of the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy and argued that it would not be rational to sit at the negotiating table no matter what. But in case the Greek Cypriots vote “no” again in a possible referendum, the UN must recognise some rights to Turkish Cypriots.

He noted that the appointment of Holguin is important in terms of reaching a mutually acceptable, permanent and just solution in Cyprus and pointed out that the CTP highlights in red some points, the most important of which is that there is a basis for a UN solution.

Akansoy said that it is not possible to have an alternative to the Cyprus problem outside the UN solution basis and added that both sides should approach the issue on the UN basis.

Speaking to Philenews, diplomatic circles said that they do not rule out her stay lasting around a week or more.

In addition to the two leaders, Holguin has already made arrangements with groups and social groups on both sides to record positions and opinions.