Holguin stated that she will present her report on Cyprus to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on 10 July. In her letter, she mentioned, “The Secretary-General will decide on the steps to be taken in the coming months. I remain optimistic and urge all Cypriots to encourage and pressure their leaders to work towards a better and safer future. Leaders must show the will and determination for real progress“.
Reflecting on her first visit, Holguin noted that she walked down the abandoned Ermou Street, a powerful symbol of the failure to resolve a conflict that has lasted over 60 years. “Memorials and monuments remind us not of glory but of the failure to reach an agreement on the island“, she said, adding, “They present a Cyprus frozen in time. This is exactly what we now have, the opportunity to change“.
While acknowledging the challenges, Holguin believes that Cypriots would have a brighter and more positive outlook if they could overcome their painful past. In her letter, she emphasised the importance of not forgetting the youth on both sides of the island, stating, “They deserve a different life with equal opportunities, so that their future is not cut short by their past“.
In her open letter, Holguin shared the following sentiments: “For me, Cyprus was both new and familiar at the same time“.
“In February of this year, I began my duties as the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Representative, tasked with investigating whether there are suitable conditions for the negotiations in Cyprus to restart in a definitive and sustainable manner. Five months later, I had my final meetings with the two leaders, Nikos Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar.
“For me, Cyprus was both new and familiar at the same time. I never imagined that I would find landscapes on this beautiful island that resembled those in my home country of Colombia. I live in a semi-desert mountain town three hours away from Bogotá, easily comparable to any of the routes I traveled during my visits. Olive trees, abundant in both countries, symbolise peace and lasting renewal.
“In the meetings with both leaders, they had ample opportunity to express their positions and concerns. It was also important for me to understand the visions of political actors, civil society, and the island’s population. I am deeply grateful to everyone who shared their experiences and concerns with me. I witnessed the generosity and kindness of the Cypriot people on both sides“.
The status quo has created more distance and a lack of knowledge about the other side
“These months have focused on a constant search for ways to build trust between the parties. It is important to move away from solutions that have created unmet expectations in the past, leading to greater conflicts and disappointments. Now, we must think differently.
“After thoroughly researching the island’s history during this period, I see that too many years have been spent on conflict and discrimination, and too much time on blaming the other side. The status quo has created more distance and a lack of knowledge about the other side, which grows every day. As a mechanism to prevent further disappointment associated with failed negotiation attempts, many people seem to have surrendered to the impossibility of changing the current situation“.
Memorials and monuments remind us not of glory but of the failure to reach an agreement on the island
“In any negotiation process, recognising and understanding the past is important. This is especially true for Cyprus, whose history is marked by much pain and loss. However, this past should not be an insurmountable obstacle to progressing towards a solution that benefits all Cypriots, including those who believe that they do not need to change“.
Youth deserve a different life with equal opportunities so that their future is not cut short by their past
“Cyprus has the potential to be a prosperous country in a troubled geographical region that needs stability. Undoubtedly, by respecting differences and parallel developments, Cypriots can become reliable partners for many around the world. A step towards unity will certainly contribute to security on the island and a sense of living in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
“I reiterate my invitation to connect with the future and, above all, to seek solutions that enhance the value of both sides. To heal the past and improve the present, everyone must look to the future in a healthier and more hopeful way. While acknowledging the challenges, I believe that if Cypriots could overcome their painful past, they would have a brighter and more positive outlook. We must not forget the youth on both sides of the island. They deserve a different life with equal opportunities so that their future is not cut short by their past.
“Important insights from neuroscience have broadened my understanding of some behaviours I observed in Cyprus. These insights suggest that the brain perceives reality by combining past beliefs and new experiences. These beliefs, formed, inherited, and reinforced during childhood, deeply embed themselves in the brain, which loses the ability to absorb new information. As a result, when a painful past is repeatedly taught, it becomes impossible for people to be open to change and to believe in a hopeful alternative for a better future“.
There will always be people who predict bad things will happen
“Major transformations in countries are not immune to criticism and accusations. There will always be groups that prefer the continuation of the status quo rather than compromising their positions. There will always be people who predict bad things will happen. Some groups perceive even small changes as a threat or betrayal. However, history teaches us that positive changes occur when leaders recognise what is at stake and focus on the long-term welfare of their societies“.
Cyprus deserves to find a compromise and a new path, and it can achieve this
“I believe Cyprus deserves to find a compromise and a new path, and it can achieve this. I will present my report to the UN Secretary-General on July 10, but my commitment is not over yet. I will continue to think of alternatives for a permanent solution. The Secretary-General will decide on the steps to be taken in the coming months. I remain optimistic and urge all Cypriots to encourage and pressure their leaders to work towards a better and safer future. Leaders must show the will and determination for real progress“.
