Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Cyprus
Ms.María Ángela Holguín
On 2 May 2025, Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of María Angela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus. Ms. Holguín completed a previous assignment as Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Cyprus from January to July 2024.
Ms. Holguín brings extensive diplomatic experience at the highest levels, including as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia (2010-2018). She also served as delegate of the President of Colombia at the Peace Process Negotiation in Havana (2015-2016) and was a member of the Cabinet for Post-Conflict (2017-2018). Previous posts in her diplomatic career include the position of Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations, Ambassador to Venezuela and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Ms. Holguín holds a degree in political science from the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá. She also studied at the Centre d´Études Diplomatiques et Stratégiques and at the Université Paris–Sorbonne in Paris. In addition to Spanish, she speaks English and French.
Coordinator/Chief of Staff
Mr. Sergiy Illarionov
Born in Latvia in 1965. Graduated from the Kiev Military Academy in 1986 with a Master’s degree in Linguistics and Management. Served in the army in various positions across Uzbekistan, Germany, Belarus, and Ukraine.
Earned a second Master’s degree in Development and Management in 2010.
Participated in UN peacekeeping missions in the former Yugoslavia, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan as a UN Military Observer and UN Military Advisor. Retired from active military service in 2001.
Since 2001, has served as a professional UN civilian staff member in various positions, including Civil Affairs Officer, Political Affairs Officer, Head of Office, and Chief of Staff in Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Nepal. Since 31 May 2013, has served as Head of Office–Coordinator of the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus (OSASG).
Ukrainian citizen, residing in Riga, Latvia. Speaks Ukrainian, Russian, English, and Latvian.