“What we had said was that the President of the European Commission intended to appoint a person with extensive experience and recognized standing. Ursula von der Leyen responded to Nicosia’s request by appointing Raffaele Fito as Special Envoy for the Cyprus issue.
He is the Executive Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Cohesion Policy and Reforms.”
^{Konstantinos Letympiotis – Government Spokesperson}

“It is an honor to have been appointed by the European Commission as Special Representative for Cyprus.I will work closely with Maria Olgin to create the conditions for the resumption of negotiations and to support a comprehensive and lasting settlement.”
^{Raffaele Fito – EU Special Representative for Cyprus}

“The selection of an official at the very top of the Commission’s institutional hierarchy demonstrates its heightened interest and its readiness for a leading and more substantive role in efforts to resume negotiations.”
^{Nikos Christodoulides – President of the Republic}

Meanwhile, the so-called Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the occupied territories has characterized the appointment as provocative, noting that it is intended to exert pressure on the Turkish Cypriots.

The announcement was made public just a few hours before von der Leyen’s meeting with President Christodoulides in Paris.

The Commission President will also provide a private briefing on her dinner with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well as last night’s phone call with António Guterres.

“It was a good conversation with António Guterres. We can see renewed momentum toward resolving the Cyprus issue within the framework of the UN and in accordance with the principles, values, and legislation of the European Union. This opportunity must be seized. I look forward to seeing progress in the coming months.”
^{Ursula von der Leyen – President of the European Commission}

The British media have also begun to revisit the Cyprus issue, with reports even suggesting a comprehensive solution plan from the United Nations. Take this article from the online newspaper The Independent, which points out in its analysis that everyone stands to gain: Greek Cypriots who want a loose federation, and the Turkish Cypriots who envision a settlement close to a two-state solution, but above all the British, who retain their two bases without hindrance.

The Independent essentially republishes the big picture from Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sources.
It notes that Olgin’s proposals are open to different interpretations, depending on how one views them—either as a loose federation or as a confederation.
And she adds that the plan would create two constituent states within the European Union, thereby preventing recognition of the pseudo-state.
With political equality and broad autonomy.

Most governmental powers would be exercised separately by the two constituent states, while the central government would have a limited role. According to the British, the creation of a rotating presidential council is being considered, in which the two leaders would participate, with a ratio of two to one or three to one in favor of the Greek Cypriot side. At the same time, it is proposed that a joint body of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot members of parliament be established, as well as a joint cabinet.

Perhaps the most interesting proposal from the United Nations concerns the return of Varosia in exchange for the three A’s—that is, the Turkish Cypriots’ demands for direct trade, direct flights, and direct contacts. This scenario has already been rejected by Ankara, as well as by the occupied territories.

All eyes, however, are on the United Nations and Maria Olgin, who begins talks in Brussels today. She is expected in Cyprus immediately afterward, at which point she will clarify the status of the informal five-party talks.

Watch Giorgos Georgiadis’s report: