Maria Angela Holguin, the UN secretary-general’s envoy for Cyprus, met with President Nikos Christodoulides at the presidential palace on Saturday and is scheduled to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on May 26.

“We agreed to work hard this month to achieve results based on the March agreement. We want to present concrete outcomes ahead of the mutually agreed-upon measures in July, and that is my focus during this visit,” Holguin said after a 75-minute meeting with Christodoulides.

The March agreement included initiatives such as opening more crossing points, forming a technical committee on youth, and other projects within the buffer zone and across the island.

The government spokesman, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said that the president’s sincere political will and initiatives supporting the UN secretary-general’s efforts have gained international recognition.

“The first meeting of the president of the republic with Holguin, following her reappointment by the UN secretary-general, has been completed. We welcome Holguin to Cyprus, which is proof of the personal commitment of the secretary-general himself to our efforts to resume negotiations,” Letymbiotis said after the meeting.

He described the discussion as “very constructive”, focusing on next steps after the March multilateral conference and in preparation for the new multilateral conference planned for July.

At the March conference, specific decisions were made, including Holguin’s appointment and the initiation of discussions on six thematic modules. These discussions continue, with the president presenting a constructive stance and proposals, he said. Holguin’s role will be crucial in preparing for the July conference, intended as a springboard for resuming negotiations.

The spokesman welcomed that Holguin would remain in Cyprus until May 31, enabling intensive and frequent discussions, including a further meeting with the president.

The president expressed readiness for a joint meeting with Tatar in Holguin’s presence, and an update is expected following the latter’s meeting with Tatar on May 26.

Holguin’s programme will also include visits and contacts in Ankara, Athens, the United Kingdom and Brussels.

In the president’s meeting, the recent appointment of Johannes Hahn as the EU’s special envoy for Cyprus was highlighted, with emphasis on how EU-Turkish relations intersect with the Cyprus issue and the EU’s potential significant support for UN efforts.

Responding to questions about the July multilateral conference and the discussion of memorandums of understanding (MOUs), Letymbiotis confirmed that substantive issues are expected to be discussed. The multilateral conference’s composition allows for such discussion, which is crucial to preparing for a resumption of negotiations.

He stressed that progress on the six thematic areas agreed at the March Geneva conference remains vital. The multilateral conference, under the UN secretary-general’s auspices, aims to address substantive matters to help restart negotiations.

When asked about the topics discussed during the president’s meeting with Holguin, the spokesperson said the discussion was private but described it as “very frank and constructive” on substantive issues.

On whether topics beyond security and guarantees were covered, the spokesperson confirmed “a specific discussion on a series of sections that touch on substantive issues”, including a detailed and clear presentation of the republic’s positions by the president.

Holguin will remain in Cyprus until May 31, holding discussions with representatives from both communities and other key stakeholders. Her mission is to secure tangible progress on confidence-building measures agreed in March, ahead of a broader informal UN meeting planned for July.

Holguin previously served as personal envoy from January to July 2024. The European commission has also appointed Johannes Hahn as special envoy for Cyprus to support the settlement process alongside her.