For María Ángela Olguín, things are much simpler than how the two sides in Cyprus view them.
According to her statements—or rather, what she wrote in an article in *Politis*— Christodoulides and Erciyuman simply need to cooperate on the basis of political equality, reach an agreement on the terms of reference, and immediately establish the methodology for the dialogue.
“Confidence-building measures and the methodology (…) must be the subject of negotiation and agreed upon by the leaders. Progress depends on their willingness to begin cooperating and to explore how they can coexist on the basis of political equality.”
María Ángela Olguín – UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In fact, she does not hesitate to speak bluntly about the fact that not even a small step has been taken, even on non-substantive issues concerning the Cyprus problem.
“If, over the past two years, the two sides have failed to agree even on opening a roadblock (…) or on a joint effort to eliminate plastic pollution on the island, how can they agree on a political, economic, and social model capable of overcoming decades of division and the growing estrangement between the two communities?”
María Ángela Olguín – UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus
As for the record of the meetings, which was compiled by the United Nations, she indicated that it will be presented at the start of the negotiations, when they finally begin.
Olguín and the Secretary-General
Maria Angela Olguín’s upcoming visit in late October will most likely be her last under the leadership of António Guterres at the United Nations.
What no one knows is how the next Secretary-General of the Organization will proceed, and whether the mandate of a personal envoy to Cyprus will be renewed.
It is worth noting, however, that – behind the scenes – the name of the Colombian UN official is being mentioned among those who may be nominated for the position of the next Secretary-General, since none of the seven current candidates has emerged as a consensus choice among the permanent members of the Security Council.
Watch the report by Giorgos Chrysanthos:
