Municipality of Akanthou protests selective meetings with UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin

On November 6, 2026, the Municipality of Akanthou officially protested against the selective invitations extended to certain occupied municipalities for meetings with Maria Angela Holguin, the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General. The municipality, representing displaced persons, demanded equal representation and criticized the exclusion of various elected representatives from the dialogue process regarding the situation in the occupied territories.

In its statement, the Municipality of Akanthou emphasized that the rights of all refugees are protected by the UN Charter and the European acquis. The local authorities expressed their intent to brief Holguin on pressing issues, including the destruction or illegal sale of Greek-Christian cultural heritage, the construction of new buildings on seized properties, the conversion of churches into mosques, the demolition of residences, and the alteration of traditional historical names of villages and towns. They argued that these grievances require formal recognition and discussion within the framework of the UN mission's mandate.

The municipality noted that both the Committee of Occupied Municipalities and individual municipal bodies had repeatedly requested meetings with Holguin to present their positions. As of now, the protest highlights ongoing dissatisfaction with the procedural approach of the UN mission, while local officials continue to advocate for a more inclusive consultative process regarding the future of the occupied areas.