Category: Cyprus News Agency

The situation in the buffer zone is “heading towards de-escalation”, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said on Tuesday after a meeting of nearly one hour with President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace, stressing that UNFICYP is working across its police, civilian and military components to preserve calm and support the political process on Cyprus.

Lacroix described his meeting with the President as ‘very useful and constructive’, saying they discussed the current situation against the backdrop of the political process and talks between the two sides, which he described as “very important”.

“The role of UNFICYP is to do everything possible so that calm will continue to prevail in the buffer zone,” he stressed.

He said he had visited Pyla earlier in the day and told the President that UNFICYP personnel continue to work tirelessly and in a very integrated manner “to promote de-escalation”. “I believe that the situation is heading towards de-escalation and we will do everything possible so that this direction of trouble will continue,” he noted.

Lacroix added that the recent incidents had underlined the importance of UNFICYP’s role and thanked the President for expressing his appreciation for the work of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus.

He also stressed that the presence of a neutral and impartial mission in the buffer zone is really important to maintaining calm and preserving the conditions needed for political talks to move forward.

Violations in the area of Pyla and other locations across the UN controlled buffer zone are frequent, with the latest incident, in April 2026, involving the deployment of military vehicles and personnel from the Turkish-occupied areas, aimed at blocking veterinary checks. This prompted the UN to stress that unauthorised entry, presence or activity within the buffer zone constitutes a violation of the UN Mission’s mandate.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion. Numerous peace talks under the UN aegis with the aim to reunite the island under a federal roof failed to yield results. The latest round of talks took place in the summer of 2017 in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana.

House of Representatives President Annita Demetriou held on Tuesday a farewell meeting with Romania’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Sorin-Dan Mihalache, marking the completion of his term in office.

In a written statement, the House said Demetriou thanked Mihalache for the ‘excellent and constructive’ cooperation between Parliament and the Romanian Embassy during his tenure, as well as for his active contribution to strengthening bilateral ties between Cyprus and Romania.

Both sides reaffirmed the high level of relations and cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments, expressing a shared commitment to further strengthen dialogue and high-level exchanges.

They also discussed broader issues, including the multiple and complex challenges facing democracy, underlining the need for collective responsibility to address them and restore public trust in institutions.

The tourist market in Cyprus has been receiving more positive messages in recent weeks, following the war in the region, an expanded meeting at the Deputy Ministry of Tourism Monday heard.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis, with the participation of all relevant actors, CCCI and OEV, PASYXE, STEK, ACTTA, PASYDIXE and the airport management company Hermes Airports. The participants discussed the current situation in the tourism sector and the framework for actions for the immediate future.

According to a press release by the Deputy Ministry, the paticipants exchanged views on the current situation and submitted their suggestions for future actions. They all agreed that the sector is faced with an extraordinary situation and that collective efforts are required to strengthen cooperation, the press release says.

The government of Cyprus is in constant contact with the European Commission and efforts are made towards the Turkish Cypriots since the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Tuesday, expressing hope that there will be a positive outcome in relation with protocols and measures in the Turkish occupied areas where the EU acquis is suspended.

Letymbiotis was replying to questions about representations made by Greek Cypriot farmers whose animals have been culled as per EU protocols and the fact that no protocols or guidelines are followed in the occupied areas were FMD cases have also been reported since last December.

He was specifically asked whether pressure is being exerted on the EU to cut off funds given to T/cs following the management of the issue.

Letymbiotis clarified that compliance with EU legislation and protocols cannot be a confidence-building measure and that we, as the Republic of Cyprus, encourage the Turkish Cypriots receiving funding and support, but along with the benefits there are also obligations.

He recalled that at the European Commission level this aspect has been raised and expressed hope that there will be a response, from T/cs as well, for the well-intentioned interest of the primary sector, but mainly for the harmonization along with protocols that have been drawn up not for political but for scientific and veterinary reasons solely.

The Spokesperson said that efforts to approach the Turkish Cypriots on the matter take place, adding that they are not always made public.

“It is important for all of us and our Turkish Cypriot compatriots to understand that the implementation of these protocols is the fastest way out of a huge crisis,” he said.

Asked about the measures of a group of livestock farmers who threaten to block roads Thursday and Friday when Cyprus will be hosting an informal EU Council, the Spokesperson said that the right to protest and to express any disagreement or different approach is inalienable.

However, he noted that on 23 and 24 April it will potentially be one of the highlight moments of the Cyprus EU Presidency, as all the leaders of the EU MS and of countries in the region will be on the island, at a very critical time.

He recalled that one of the main priorities of the Cyprus Presidency is the strengthening of EU cooperation with the region and especially in the current regional crisis this priority is being put into practice.

Letymbiotis expressed hope that “we will all demonstrate collective responsibility in these moments so that the informal Council can also reflect the success of our EU Presidency.”

Asked whether the authorities are drawing up a crisis management plan, he replied that assessments are being made by the competent authorities, so that the informal European Council can take place and be concluded smoothly on both days, as befits such an important event at the peak of the Presidency.

The old model of livestock farming cannot continue and amendments should be made, Head of the Scientific Committee for the reconstruction and upgrading of the livestock sector, Stavros Malas, told the Cyprus News Agency on Monday evening. As regards the FMD cases in the west district of Nicosia, he spoke of bad practices for animal movement.

Malas who took part in a meeting of the epidemiological group, told CNA that when a farm has lambs and goats and no proper disinfection takes place and at the same time swines are loaded on the trucks, then ”you leave a small outbreak behind you, and also a problem”.

Malas said that testing took place in 490 units of which 101 came back positive.

“It is close to 20-22%, which is the percentage we expected,” he noted.

Malas said once again that the way the livestock areas were organised, leads to conditions for the spread of the FMD and it becomes worse than it should be.

In relation to livestock, Malas clarified that the Scientific Committee is not discussing replenishing livestock from abroad but how to fix the issue in the domestic market.

“We believe that the best way is to build livestock farming on the basis of local breeds, which are also more resistant,” he explained.

He noted that if the virus is contained, there is enough livestock in our country to replace it.

Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, is to hold a meeting in Nicosia on Thursday with the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda.

According to an update from the Presidency, President Christodoulides will receive his Lithuanian counterpart at the Presidential Palace on Thursday.

The two Presidents will hold a private meeting, followed by expanded talks between the delegations of the two countries.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides stressed on Tuesday morning the need for conducive conditions on the ground, particularly with regard to the buffer zone, to make possible the start of negotiations on the Cyprus issue, as he received UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix at the Presidential Palace.

The President thanked the United Nations for its interest in and focus on the Cyprus issue, telling Lacroix that conditions on the ground are a matter of concern for Nicosia and one it wishes to discuss with the UN side.

For his part, Lacroix expressed appreciation for the support provided to the United Nations in its efforts on Cyprus and said the UN remains committed to helping in any way it can, while also stressing that conditions should be kept as calm as possible.

Also present on behalf of the United Nations was the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP, Khassim Diagne. Those attending on the Cypriot side included Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, Director of the President’s Press Office Victor Papadopoulos, Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou and the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the United Nations, Ambassador Maria Michael.

Violations in the area of Pyla and other locations across the UN controlled buffer zone are frequent, with the latest incident, in April 2026, involving the deployment of military vehicles and personnel from the Turkish-occupied areas, aimed at blocking veterinary checks. This prompted the UN to stress that unauthorised entry, presence or activity within the buffer zone constitutes a violation of the UN Mission’s mandate.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion. Numerous peace talks under the UN aegis with the aim to reunite the island under a federal roof failed to yield results. The latest round of talks took place in the summer of 2017 in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana.

UN Secretary-General’s initiative for a new Cyprus meeting has already begun with contacts at various levels and the Greek Cypriot side hopes that this will take place earlier than July, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Tuesday. He also expressed satisfaction with the immediate response of the peacekeeping force UNFICYP to recent Turkish provocations in the buffer zone and the efforts for de-escalation.

The Spokesperson made statements to the press at the Presidential Palace following a meeting President Christodoulides had with UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, with whom he discussed these recent provocations.

Lacroix later held a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman.

Letymbiotis said that the President had the opportunity to exchange views with the UN top official on the ongoing violations in the buffer zone area, pointing out that the occupation regime attempts to change the status quo. He noted that President Christodoulides recognised the immediate response of the peacekeeping force in accordance with the terms of its mandate and the effective management of the situation.

He also underlined the importance of the presence of UNFICYP on the island.

The Spokesperson also said that the commitment and approach of the UNSG were discussed with the aim of utilizing the time until the completion of Guterres’ tenure in order to achieve substantial progress towards resuming Cyprus negotiations from where they left off.

According to the Spokesperson, the UN official thanked the President for Cyprus’ regional humanitarian role and its support and assistance to Lebanon in particular.

When asked whether the UN has the intention or willingness to take more drastic measures in relation to the repeated provocations in Pyla and Pergamos areas by the Turkish occupying forces, Letymbiotis said that the UN official conveyed the message that things are moving towards a de-escalation and that this is the goal and mission of the peacekeeping force.

”We must reiterate once again that the response of the peacekeeping force was in accordance with the terms of its mandate,’ said Letymbiotis.

In relation to the Turkish Cypriot leader’s public statement that the UNSG will assume a new initiative on the Cyprus issue in July, Letymbiotis recalled that the President of the Republic himself has made this initiative public following their meeting in Brussels.

He reiterated that our side is ready “even tomorrow” if it is necessary to participate in an expanded conference, to resume negotiations from where they left off , in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

Asked if Lacroix himself expressed any concern about the provocations in Pyla and the violations to alter the regime of the buffer zone, the Spokesperson replied that by no means does anyone ignore the seriousness and importance of such violations and the fact that they do not contribute constructively to this effort that the Secretary-General has personally undertaken.

He said that the UN pointed out that they are constantly monitoring the situation and they take the necessary measures based on the developments.

In another question whether our side is satisfied with the explanations given by the UN regarding a meeting UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacekeeping Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo held with the Turkish Cypriot leader in Turkey and the fact that the flag of the illegal entity was on the table of the meeting, Letymbiotis spoke of an “unfortunate moment” and stressed that from the very beginning, demarches were made through Cyprus’ permanent mission to the UN and in Nicosia.

Letymbiotis said that the UNSG Spokesperson “in a clear way, reiterated UN’s firm position and SG’s firm position”.

He said that strong representations were made from the beginning both in Cyprus and in New York and we had the response by the UN yesterday.

In another question about a new meeting between President Christodoulides and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Letymbiotis said that the negotiators of the two sides will meet tomorrow and announcements will be made if necessary.

Violations in the area of Pyla and other locations across the UN controlled buffer zone are frequent, with the latest incident, in April 2026, involving the deployment of military vehicles and personnel from the Turkish-occupied areas, aimed at blocking veterinary checks. This prompted the UN to stress that unauthorised entry, presence or activity within the buffer zone constitutes a violation of the UN Mission’s mandate.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion. Numerous peace talks under the UN aegis with the aim to reunite the island under a federal roof failed to yield results. The latest round of talks took place in the summer of 2017 in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana.

The possibility of disruptions in the supply of transport fuels, was highlighted by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, as he arrived at the extraordinary meeting of the EU Transport Ministers’ Council via teleconference on Tuesday morning in Brussels. At the same time, he stressed the need for preparedness at all levels of Europe’s energy security in the transport portfolio. The clear focus of the European Commission’s upcoming energy plan, Accelerate EU, to be presented on Wednesday, was also underlined by the Commissioner for Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, upon his arrival at the Council.

‘We have before us the possibility, and I stress the word possibility, of a shortage in transport fuel. This evolving geopolitical crisis in the Middle East has highlighted that Europe may have a short-term issue in supply of fuel, and this we need to discuss, for this we need to be aware. But we also have in the mid-term and the long-term, a demand issue, and this needs to be neutralized,’ Minister Vafeades said.

He further stressed the importance of preventing panic-driven situations. ‘To be clear, what I want to say is that we need to be ready to avoid queues at the gas stations if this ever happens, but we also need to permanently do away with the possibility of queues at the gas stations. And this is part of the discussion I hope we will have today’ he said.

The timing is critical ahead of upcoming European discussions, Vafeades noted, saying that ‘it’s timely, and it comes at the perfect timing for the upcoming meeting of our leaders in Cyprus in a couple of days. It will feed that discussion, and so I think this is going to be a good discussion, and it will be fruitful.’

Asked by CNA about the possibility of a jet fuel shortage, the Minister reiterated that ‘we are not treading that ground. We’re facing the possibility, but you understand that if this ever happens, it will affect connectivity, it will affect every citizen in the union. So we need to be aware. We need to be ready. That’s the point here.’

From his side, Commissioner Tzitzikostas referred to the Commission’s new energy plan in response to the broader impact of the Middle East crisis. ‘The crisis in the Middle East is affecting all transport modes of the EU member states. The European Commission will present tomorrow an energy plan, Accelerate EU. It will have a major focus on transport fuels with clear emphasis on jet fuel for obvious reasons. I will present to the Ministers today our ideas.’

He also underlined the need for coordinated European action. ‘Of course, we need to work together, to address the consequences of the crisis in the Middle East, and to ease the impact of the rising costs on citizens and businesses. But we must also work hand in hand to make our transport systems and supply chains more resilient to future prices and disruptions. I look forward to the Ministers’ contributions and concrete proposals in order to address these urgent matters today’ concluded the Commissioner.

The spring session of the International Secretariat of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), held in Tbilisi, Georgia, concluded on Monday, with the participation members of the Cypriot delegation to the IAO, Elias Myrianthous and Alekos Tryfonides.

According to a House statement, the session, which began with a minute of silence in memory of the recently deceased Patriarch of Georgia, Ilia II, was addressed by the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, who emphasized that it is a great honour for Georgia to host the proceedings of the International Secretariat of the IAO and that its Parliament has consistently and actively participated in the Assembly’s activities since its establishment.

It is noted that Papuashvili emphasized the importance of promoting Christian values in modern Europe and beyond, and provided information regarding the celebrations to be held this coming October marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Christianization of the Georgian people, while the IAO Secretary General, Maximos Charakopoulos, noted that Georgia is a timeless bastion of Orthodoxy that has played a catalytic role in shaping the identity of its people.

It is added that during the proceedings of the meeting, issues concerning the functioning and planning of the Assembly’s upcoming activities were discussed, among other topics. In his remarks, Myrianthous provided an overview of the recent activities in which he participated as a member of IAO delegations, while Tryfonides raised the issue of the desecration of Christian churches and monuments in Turkish-occupied Cyprus.

It is further stated that, as part of the proceedings, a delegation of participating parliamentarians, including Myrianthous, was received by the President of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, who emphasized the need to defend traditional values in the modern world, while the Secretary General of the IOC emphasized that Orthodoxy is an integral part of Georgia’s national identity and that the country should participate in shaping the new Europe.

During their stay in Tbilisi, the Cypriot MPs visited the Federation of Greek Communities of Georgia, where they were briefed by its President, Eugenia Kotanidi, about the activities of the 18 Greek associations in the country, with particular emphasis on Greek language education and the activities of Greek youth, which, as was emphasized, represent the hope for the continued presence of Hellenism in the country, while the participating MPs also attended a memorial service at the tomb of the late Patriarch of Georgia, Ilia II, the statement concludes.