Challenges in Olguin's Meeting with Famagusta Municipality
October 27, 2026
Maria Angela Olguin, the UN Secretary-General's envoy, is avoiding difficult meetings with organized groups, such as the Famagusta municipality, which has tried for a year to meet with her without success. Famagusta's mayor, Simos Ioannou, emphasized the importance of returning the enclosed area and proposed handing it over to the United Nations. Olguin blamed the leaders of Cyprus for a lack of political will, which was met with disagreement from Nicosia. Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos countered that the two sides cannot be equated. Olguin is expected to arrive in Cyprus on October 29, with a meeting of the two leaders scheduled for November 9.