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One consequence of the failure at Crans-Montana is that the bizonal, bicommunal federation is no longer a common point of reference for both sides, UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguin told Politis in an interview.
When asked whether she believes the bizonal, bicommunal federation solution and the Guterres framework remain the primary objective for resolving the Cyprus issue or should be reinforced with other ideas, Ms Holguin said the bizonal, bicommunal federation remains the framework adopted by the UN Security Council. “However,” she noted, “one consequence of the failure at Crans-Montana is that the bizonal, bicommunal federation is no longer a common point of reference for both sides.”
“Four years after the informal 5+1 meeting of 2021,” Ms Holguin said, “the two sides’ positions remain very far from one another.” This reality, she noted, “must be taken into account, because as it is known, it takes two to tango.” She added that “equally worrying” is the “growing gap” between the two communities at a “social level.”
This is the situation we face today, Ms Holguin stressed, declaring her determination to help the sides move step by step to identify mutually acceptable elements that would contribute to confidence-building and finding common ground for the future. “That is the priority which the UN Secretary-General has set for my mission at this moment,” Ms Holguin said.
The above is from a Cyprus News Agency (CNA) dispatch regarding the interview given by the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to Politis on Tuesday, 8 July. Just nine days before the second five-party meeting to be held in New York (16-17 July).
This timing is not coincidental. That is, just over a week before the second five-party meeting, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar gave an interview and sent these messages.
What messages did she send?
First. It is clear that Ms Holguin wants to lower expectations for the upcoming multilateral talks. She knows that “nothing substantial will come out of it” and is therefore taking care to put the brakes on any optimistic approaches or otherwise. She is essentially telling us straight to our faces, as clearly as possible, that at the multilateral meeting, “at most, some confidence-building measures might be decided upon,” and it might become clear why previous CBMs did not progress. She specifically said she would “help the sides to move forward step by step to locate those accepted elements which will contribute to building confidence and to finding common ground for the future. That is the priority which the UN Secretary-General has set for my mission at this moment.”
Notice what she says. To identify mutually acceptable elements that would contribute to confidence-building and finding common ground for the future. Can you spot the difference? Not finding a “solution” but “common ground” for whatever solution.
This leads us to Ms Holguin’s second message, which she expressed clearly. The BBF is no longer on the table for both sides. The Turkish side no longer discusses a BBF solution. “…the bizonal, bicommunal federation is no longer a common point of reference for both sides. “Four years after the informal 5+1 conference in 2021, the two sides’ positions remain very far from one another. That reality must be taken into account, because as it is known, it takes two to tango,” she said specifically.
Although Ms Holguin said that the process remains within the framework of UN resolutions (something she was obliged to say, after all), she simultaneously spoke with facts and told us clearly: The other side no longer desires the BBF, “and we/you will have to see what you will do.” She essentially told us the obvious: ‘you cannot force a marriage’ (she put it somewhat differently noting that it takes two to tango).
So what? Does this need an explanation? BBF is finished.
When not even Holguin believes that the BBF is feasible anymore, why are we still bothering?
This article was first published on 13.07.2025
