Holguín Makes Last-Ditch Push in Ankara Before Cyprus Talks

María Ángela Holguín will travel to Turkey on Sunday to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, just one day before Guterres arrives in Cyprus, according to in-cyprus (Philenews). The timing underscores the critical nature of her mission: securing Turkish agreement to participate in a new informal five-party meeting on the Cyprus question.

The personal envoy’s visit represents a last-ditch effort to salvage Guterres’s diplomatic initiative, which has been stalled by Turkey’s hardline position on the island. Holguín, who reportedly convinced Guterres to undertake the Cyprus visit, now faces the challenge of persuading Ankara to shift its stance and engage in multilateral talks.

Diplomatic Sprint Across European Capitals

Turkish news agency ANKA disclosed details of the July 26 meeting between Holguín and Fidan, reporting that the UN envoy will conduct talks in several European capitals, including Brussels and Ankara, as part of preparations for the Secretary-General’s visit.

The discussions are expected to cover the latest diplomatic developments surrounding the Cyprus problem, the positions of all parties involved, and the agenda for Guterres’s upcoming trip. According to ANKA, Holguín’s contacts in both Ankara and Brussels are viewed as critical for finalizing diplomatic preparations and gauging the positions of all sides before the next phase of engagement.

ANKA further reports that this will be Guterres’s final visit to Cyprus before his term as UN Secretary-General concludes. The current plan calls for separate meetings with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, followed by a joint session chaired by Guterres. He is also scheduled to meet with representatives from bicommunal technical committees and civil society organizations.

Turkey Doubles Down on Two-State Solution

Ankara has shown no indication of softening its position on Cyprus. Turkish officials used recent ceremonies marking the 52nd anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion to reinforce their demand for a “two-state solution,” a stance that severely constrains the UN Secretary-General’s ability to convene meaningful multilateral negotiations.

Turkish Vice-President Cevdet Yılmaz, speaking in the Turkish Pseudostate in Northern Cyprus, emphasized the concept of “two equal sovereign states.” As reported by in-cyprus (Philenews), Yılmaz declared that a solution would only be possible through recognition of sovereign equality and equal international status for what he called “two states.” He asserted that Turkey’s military presence on the island guarantees regional peace, adding that Cyprus would never become a Greek island.

The “mayor” of occupied Nicosia, Mehmet Harmancı, acknowledged the new initiative launched through the UN Secretary-General’s actions but framed it around achieving international recognition for Turkish Cypriots within what he described as a framework of equality.

Turkish Diplomat Calls for Aggressive Recognition Campaign

Turkish diplomat Hüseyin Macit Yusuf went further, arguing that the two-state vision promoted by Turkey and the Turkish Pseudostate in Northern Cyprus must be pursued with determination. He called for more energetic and effective diplomacy aimed at securing international recognition for the illegal entity, and urged that Turkey’s National Assembly and National Security Council policy—which treats Cyprus as home to two sovereign states—be applied even more forcefully.

The entrenched Turkish position leaves Holguín with minimal maneuvering room as she attempts to broker agreement for a five-party meeting. Her weekend mission to Ankara will test whether any diplomatic flexibility exists within the Turkish government, or whether Guterres’s visit will proceed without the breakthrough the UN had hoped to achieve.

With information from in-cyprus (Philenews)