Category: Cyprus News Agency

The convergences that have been achieved on the Cyprus issue serve are pivotal as regards the new effort which is currently underway, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said in an interview with “Kathimerini” newspaper.

The President noted that Turkey will not move towards a Cyprus solution unless it feels it will benefit from it, noting that the only actor capable of offering benefits to Turkey is the EU. The President stressed that any concession towards Ankara must be preceded by tangible progress on the Cyprus issue.

In this context, ‘we are in the process of a new appointment for a Special Envoy for Cyprus by the President of the Commission,’ he said, adding that last week in Montenegro he discussed specific names with von der Leyen.

Asked about the framework for a solution, the President said that he has discussed about how to move forward with the UN Secretary-General, referring to a ‘very promising effort,’ about which he is cautiously optimistic.

‘The key to this effort are the convergences that have been achieved on the Cyprus issue,’ he said, noting that the need to safeguard these convergences is both our longstanding position and one of (Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan) Erhurman’s four points. ‘Therefore, regarding the framework, let us keep in mind that the convergences constitute the common approach,’ he said.

Furthermore, he reiterated that the effort currently underway concerns the substance of the Cyprus issue, with no room for “constructive ambiguity”.

He also added that first and foremost he himself must agree with the content of the solution. ‘I will not allow any outcome that I do not consider satisfactory for the Cypriot people to be imposed on me,’ he said.

The objective of the effort currently underway ‘is to reach an outcome where the issues that remain open will not be capable of overturning the resolution of the Cyprus problem,’ he noted, making reference to the core chapters of the Cyprus issue: governance, security, guarantees, property, and territory.

Asked which ‘difficult decisions’ everyone will be called upon to make, President Christodoulides said that ‘the solution to the Cyprus problem will not be absolutely just, because for a solution to be absolutely just, it would have to restore the situation as it existed before 1974,’ emphasizing that the solution must be functional and sustainable.

Responding to a question about how feasible it is to have a settlement plan before the end of the year, the President said that ‘if there is political will, this goal is entirely in touch with reality. Even if we do not reach a comprehensive solution by the end of the year, at the very least a state of affairs that cannot be reversed with regard to the political will for the path toward a solution, can be shaped,’ he stressed.

Meanwhile, asked about developments regarding natural gas, he said that the goal is to have the first revenues from natural gas by late 2027 or during 2028.

The President also announced that the Secretariat for European Affairs will not be abolished after the completion of Cyprus’ Presidency of the European Union, ‘because it plays an important role in coordinating all matters related to the EU.’

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 14/06/2026 UNTIL 1200 15/06/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1008hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. Today, locally increased cloud coverage will be present while locally increased low cloud coverage with local mist and/or fog patches are expected overnight and during dawn.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist and very poor in fog

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL

Cyprus will be serving as Vice Chair of the 20th and 21st Sessions of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) for the next two years.

A press release issued on Sunday by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare said that Cyprus was nominated during the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UNCRPD by the Asia-Oceania geographical group, to which it belongs.

The Deputy Ministry vows to work closely with all states to the Convention to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.

Deputy Minister, Klea Hadjistefanou-Papaellina, attended the 19th session of the Conference of the States parties to the Convention, in UN headquarters in New York, between 9-11 June.

This year’s Summit was held under the general theme “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at 20: celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world” and coincided with the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Cyprus, in the framework of its EU Presidency, organized a side event named ‘Supported decision-making for persons with disabilities – Best practices in legislative reforms and provision of support services at the international level’.

The event focused on the importance of supported decision-making, highlighting international best practices, legislative reforms and support mechanisms that promote the autonomy, dignity, self-determination and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

The Deputy Minister also participated as a speaker at an EU event during which she delivered the national statement of the Republic of Cyprus, reaffirming the country’s commitment to the full implementation of the Convention and the promotion of inclusive policies based on human rights.

At the same time, Cyprus co-organized with the EU a working breakfast on the promotion of the Enhanced European Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with particular emphasis on integration, autonomy and supported decision-making.

On the sidelines of the Summit, the Deputy Minister held a series of bilateral meetings with officials of international organizations and government representatives.

She met, inter alia, with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua, with whom she exchanged views on the implementation of the UNCRPD, the challenges ahead and the progress achieved. They also discussed the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Deputy Minister also met with the Irish Minister for Disability, Emer Higgins, discussing the priorities of the Cyprus EU Presidency and the upcoming Irish Presidency.

She also met with the Head of the Greek Delegation, Stelios Kympouropoulos, President of the National Accessibility Authority of Greece. During the meeting, they exchanged views on recent legislative developments in Cyprus and Greece, underlining the importance of accessibility, as well as the provision of quality support services and personal assistance to people with disabilities.

Papaellina also held meetings with the Head of the Qatari Delegation, Khalifa Issa Al Kubaisi with whom she discussed the prospects for cooperation in view of the next Global Disability Summit.

The Deputy Ministry pointed out in its press release that the contacts are part of the framework of strengthening international cooperation and the exchange of good practices on the rights of persons with disabilities and social inclusion policies.

Head of the Cyprus Confederation of Disabled Persons’ Organizations also participated in the Cyprus delegation. Themida Anthopoulou had been nominated by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and was selected by the Conference Committee to participate and intervene in a round table discussion, representing the Cyprus civil society.

Central Asia constitutes a region of special importance for Cyprus, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said in an interview with the newspaper “Phileleftheros”, published on Sunday, following his visit to countries in the region.

Invited to assess his visit to the countries of Central Asia, Kombos described it as an important tour ‘in a region that presents particular difficulties for us, and based on the view that an even more intense and methodical effort must be made wherever such difficulties exist.’

‘Central Asia constitutes a region of special significance for us, within which we believe we must make the effort required to safeguard our own interests, without illusions and without exaggerations, while taking into account whatever advantages we have or can create for our country,’ he said.

He noted that precisely because these countries are considered to belong to Turkey’s sphere of influence, ‘an approach aimed at creating diplomatic space must be followed,’ since it is with these countries that serious problems may potentially arise, and conditions conducive to dialogue must therefore be created.

In addition, he said, there is also a positive example being projected in the region, namely Kazakhstan, with which relations have improved rapidly in recent times. This example is being used as a point of reference for relations with the other countries of the region as well, he noted.

The Minister expressed the view that efforts toward dialogue should be intensified, without this meaning that we retreat from our fundamental positions and principles.

He stressed that continuity and consistency in contacts are important, noting that he himself has visited the region for the third time since March 2024. He added that follow-up actions for all these contacts have already been set in motion for the coming period at every possible level, both technical and political.

Furthermore, he noted that the joint declaration adopted at the European Union-Central Asia summit level in April 2025, and at ministerial level one month earlier, which includes an explicit reference to the Cyprus issue and specifically mentions certain resolutions of fundamental importance to Cyprus, ‘outlined the roadmap for relations between the EU and the countries of Central Asia.’

As he noted, ‘we have acted as a member state of the EU, taking into account the importance of the Central Asian states for the European Union, while also taking into account our own national interests, and at the same time moving forward and extending a hand of friendship to these countries through contacts, the strengthening of institutional frameworks, and business development wherever this is possible.’

The creation of modern school infrastructure, the upgrading of learning and sports facilities, and the renovation of historic buildings while respecting their architectural and historical identity constitute yet another tangible demonstration that the state is making a meaningful investment in education, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Friday evening during his address marking the 100th anniversary of the Saint Anthony Primary School in Nicosia.

For the Government, President Christodoulides continued, ‘expenditure on Education, Health, and the Welfare State is viewed as an investment in our country’s future and not as a cost or a mere accounting exercise. It is precisely within this framework, and based on our policy approach, which places people at the center of our policies, that we are making substantial investments in initiatives of significant educational value.’

He also expressed satisfaction with the fulfillment of government commitments, such as the upgrading of primary education schools. In this context, he noted that a few days ago the Cabinet decided to establish an additional 60 Optional All-Day Schools, bringing the total number across Cyprus to 378 from September onward.

‘With the expansion of the all-day school program, our children are given the opportunity to engage in meaningful and creative activities until the afternoon, something which undoubtedly, among many other benefits, also supports their families. Beyond the numerical increase in all-day schools, the quality of the programs offered is of utmost importance to us,’ he emphasized.

The meeting between the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín, and Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, on Monday, is expected to be of critical importance concerning the way ahead on the Cyprus issue, diplomatic sources have told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

The sources said that both the actions of the UN Secretary-General, who discussed the Cyprus issue with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to Turkey in March, and Holguín’s recent efforts indicate that they acknowledge that consultations with Ankara are of particular significance, as Turkey’s stance is considered to determine, to a large extent, the next steps in the process.

In this framework, Holguín’s meeting with Fidan in Turkey on Monday is viewed as pivotal.

Assessing Holguín’s visit to Cyprus, the same sources said that the contacts held were productive and constituted the first phase of intensified preparatory work for an expanded informal meeting on the Cyprus issue.

‘The preparatory work is being guided by an approach aimed at safeguarding the convergences achieved so far. The goal is to hold the next expanded meeting in late July or early August, in order to decide on the resumption of negotiations,’ the sources told CNA.

Asked whether there were any indications that the Turkish Cypriot side continues to insist on a two-state solution, the sources said that discussions with Holguín concerned a single state framework.

Following her visit to Nicosia, Holguín will travel to Ankara, where she will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

On Wednesday, she will meet in Athens with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.

She will then return to her homeland and is expected to return to Europe around the end of June. Her itinerary will begin in Brussels for meetings with European officials before she returns to Cyprus to continue consultations.

Following this new round of contacts, the next anticipated step is the convening of an expanded informal meeting on the Cyprus issue, provided that the UN Secretary-General is satisfied that the necessary conditions are met for the resumption of negotiations.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

In 2025 the Secretary-General hosted two informal meetings on Cyprus, in March in Geneva and in July in New York, while a tripartite meeting with the Cyprus leaders was also held in late September, at the end of the UN General Assembly High Level Week. An informal meeting in broader format that was expected to take place before the end of 2025, is yet to be announced. María Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties.

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, has called on citizens to visit the diakivernisi.gov.cy platform to be informed and assess for themselves whether the government’s actions match its words, emphasizing that criticism is welcome.

In a video posted on social media, the President stated that in every modern state, citizens have the right to be informed about government policies, particularly those that affect their daily lives.

‘Recognizing this right of citizens, and as part of our own minimum obligation regarding transparency and accountability, we introduced the institution of the annual presentation of the government’s programme at the beginning of each year. This is an innovative political initiative that gives every citizen the opportunity to monitor us, scrutinize us, and evaluate us on a daily basis,’ he said.

Building on the same rationale, he continued, the government also launched the diakivernisi.gov.cy online platform, through which every citizen, the media, and any interested group can monitor in real time the progress of government projects, along with a wide range of other important information concerning government policies.

‘I therefore invite you to visit the diakivernisi.gov.cy platform, stay informed, evaluate whether our actions match our words, and through your comments and criticism, which are welcome, help us become even more efficient and effective, always for the benefit of our citizens and society. For us, transparency and accountability are not slogans. They are a minimum obligation towards all of you. Above all, they are an act of responsibility,’ he concluded.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 13/06/2026 UNTIL 1200 14/06/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1010hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but locally increased low cloud coverage with local mist and/or fog patches are expected, mainly overnight and during dawn.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist and very poor in fog

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Slight

Night Northwest to North 3 to 4, near the coast Northwest to Northeast 3 Slight

Morning Southwest to West 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

South Coast

Afternoon Southwest to West 5, at times locally 5 to 6 Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, locally Southwest to West 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Morning Southwest to West 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

East Coast

Afternoon Southwest 4, offshore 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, offshore Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, locally Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Morning South to Southwest 3, soon Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Slight

Night Southwest to West 3 to 4, near the coast Southeast to Southwest 3 Slight

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 13/06/2026 UNTIL 0600 14/06/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1010hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but locally increased low cloud coverage with local mist and/or fog patches are expected, mainly overnight and during dawn.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist and very poor in fog

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, soon Southwest to West 4 Smooth to Slight, soon Slight

Afternoon West 4, locally 4 to 5 Slight

Night West to Northwest 3 to 4, near the coast Northwest to North 3 Slight

South Coast

Morning Southwest to West 3 to 4, soon Southwest to West 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, soon Slight

Afternoon Southwest to West 4 to 5, locally 5 Slight

Night West to Northwest 3, offshore West 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight, offshore Slight

East Coast

Morning East to Southeast 3, soon Southwest to Southeast 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4, offshore 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, offshore Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, at times Variable Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning Southwest 3 to 4, soon Southwest to West 4 Smooth to Slight, soon Slight

Afternoon Southwest to West 4, locally 4 to 5 Slight

Night Southwest to West 3 to 4, near the coast Southeast to Southwest 3 Slight

The National Blood Strategy is a tool for meaningful reform and long-term planning, and the Ministry will examine it carefully and take the necessary steps for its implementation, Minister of Health, Neophytos Charalambides, said on Saturday morning during his address during the presentation of the National Blood Strategy in Nicosia. The event was organized as part of the celebrations for World Blood Donor Day, observed annually on June 14.

The Minister said that the National Blood Strategy is an important initiative that places patient safety, blood sufficiency and quality, the protection of donors and recipients, and the creation of a modern and resilient blood services system for the country at its core.

He added that Cyprus can justifiably take pride in its long-standing tradition of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation. ‘Our blood donors have made our country an international model, demonstrating in practice the power of social solidarity and collective responsibility,’ he said, thanking voluntary blood donors on behalf of the state.

The Minister noted that awareness and commitment to blood donation must be continuously strengthened and supported through an organized system that makes the best possible use of every donor’s contribution.

‘This need is even more important given the particular challenges our country faces. Cyprus has one of the highest populations of people with thalassemia worldwide, while patients with sickle cell disease and other chronic conditions also have significant transfusion needs. For these individuals, access to safe and sufficient blood is essential to their quality of life,’ he said.

He stressed that the new National Blood Strategy responds to this reality and is built around five key pillars: ensuring sufficient and safe blood for all patients, further strengthening voluntary blood donation, improving the management of blood reserves, upgrading the quality and oversight of blood services, and full alignment with new European requirements and scientific developments.

‘In this context, we seek better monitoring of blood stocks, more effective coordination among all involved services, and the use of modern technological tools,’ he said.

‘The Ministry of Health will carefully examine the Strategy’s priorities and proceed with the necessary steps for its implementation, guided by scientific evidence, sound management, and, above all, the needs of patients,’ the Minister added.

In closing, he said that Cyprus now has the opportunity to combine its strong tradition of voluntary blood donation with a modern, European, and patient-centered blood policy. ‘With respect for our blood donors and responsibility toward our patients, we are moving forward to the next stage,’ he noted.