Category: Cyprus News Agency

Possible easing of measures imposed over foot-and-mouth disease, based on requests by livestock farming organisations and the epidemiological picture, is expected to be included in a new decree, President of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association and member of the epidemiological team Demetris Epaminondas told CNA on Saturday.

Epaminondas said a regular weekly meeting with agricultural organisations was held on Friday, during which requests by livestock farming organisations for an easing of measures were discussed, taking into account the epidemiological situation.

He said the issues raised would be finalised next week, so that a new decree could “most probably” be issued within the same week or, if that is not possible, the following week.

Epaminondas noted that he preferred not to go into details until the Veterinary Services complete their examination of the specific measures and decide which of the issues discussed will be included in the decree.

At the same time, he said nationwide surveillance sampling for foot-and-mouth disease has begun.

According to Epaminondas, the first results, concerning Limassol and Nicosia, were negative, while the remaining results from the other districts are still pending, with the samples already sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Asked about the factors affecting the survival and transmission of the virus, Epaminondas said high temperatures and ultraviolet radiation at this time of year do not favour its survival, reducing the chances of transmission.

Thousands of animals, including cattle and sheep, were affected in several livestock units initially in Larnaca and then in Nicosia district, following a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, first reported on February 20. FMD spread to Limassol in May. This followed an FMD outbreak in the island’s Turkish-occupied areas last December. Authorities proceed with a nationwide vaccination campaign of animals to contain the virus, while EU rules require all animals in the infected areas to be culled, bringing about a series of repercussions in livestock farming and other agricultural economic activities. Halloumi, Cyprus’ top agricultural export product, has been spared. Experts reiterate that FMD is not dangerous to humans.

No Cyprus nationals have requested assistance as of now, following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson told the Cyprus News Agency. He said that MFA is closely monitoring the situation.

Theodoros Gotsis told CNA that “no issues with Cypriot citizens have been reported so far”, adding that the consular authorities are monitoring the development of this humanitarian tragedy.

From the very beginning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed readiness to support humanitarian efforts in Venezuela, via EU mechanisms.

European Climate Commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, and Cyprus’s Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, denounced on Thursday Cyprus’s exclusion from preparatory meetings for the COP31 World Climate Conference held in New York and Tokyo. The Conference will be hosted by Turkey. Moreover, Panayiotou called for timely EU action should Cyprus not be invited to the Conference itself.

Speaking during a joint press conference with Panayiotou, following the Environment Council meeting, Hoekstra said that on COP31, “any divergence between member states in terms of how they are treated is unacceptable to the Union. This is a conference organised by the UN. And if you decide to apply and become the host, there is no room for national diplomacy. You either decide not to organise, or you decide to organise – and if you decide to organise, that comes with certain obligations,” the Commissioner stressed. He added that the Union would be “absolutely clear with the Turkish presidency, with the Australians, and also with the UN” regarding its position on the matter.

Asked what the “full solidarity” expressed by member states actually means in practice, and whether it could translate into a boycott of preparatory meetings, Hoekstra said that “we are a Union of 27, full stop.” He added that “we’re not going to accept it, whether it’s small issues or bigger ones. It’s a matter of principle, but there are 27 member states that need to be treated the same way.”

The Commissioner recalled that the issue had already been raised directly with the Turkish side in recent months, when the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, was in Brussels, noting that “we were clear with the Turkish Ambassador to the UN,” and pointing out that there had been “lapses” in the type of invitations that should have been extended for previous meetings.

“We have flagged each and every time beforehand what is acceptable and what is not, and that is why we have been so clear in our communication to the UN, to the Australians, to Ankara, because this is a Union of 27. And to make absolutely sure this message is heard, I have conveyed it once again to the UN,” he added.

In her remarks, Minister Panayiotou said the Cyprus Presidency worked on COP31 preparations “despite the obstacles imposed by the COP31 host country, Turkey, on our participation in preparatory meetings. Such actions are not compatible with the principles of inclusiveness and equal treatment that underpin the UN system and the UNFCCC process. We therefore welcomed the strong support and solidarity expressed by Member States and EU institutions, reaffirming that the exclusion of an EU and UN member state from a UN Conference is unacceptable,” she noted.

“Since the start of the preparatory meetings hosted by Turkey, Cyprus has not been invited to participate in any of them,” the Minister noted. The Presidency’s concerns are based on information indicating that Turkey intends to invite only 26 of the EU’s 27 member states to COP31 and to the Leaders’ Summit, excluding Cyprus.

“This situation is unacceptable and inconsistent with Turkey’s responsibilities as host country of COP31. As host, Turkey must invite all UN Member States, including Cyprus, which also holds a coordinating role as Presidency of the Council of the Union,” the Minister said, adding that Turkey’s approach “is contrary to the fundamental principles of inclusiveness and equal treatment that underpin the UN system and the UNFCCC process, and is therefore unacceptable.”

Panayiotou called for immediate mobilisation by EU institutions. “If the Republic of Cyprus is not invited in time, then EU institutions and member states must engage without delay with the Turkish authorities and convey a very clear message that the non-invitation of an EU and UN Member State to a United Nations Conference is unacceptable,” she stressed, expressing satisfaction with the support already received from EU institutions and member states.

Summarising the Presidency’s position, the Minister said member states had called for “a clear message to Turkey that the non-invitation of an EU and UN member state is unacceptable, and today we discussed that there were many member states that spoke out strongly on this, including the Commission,” adding that “ensuring the unity of the European Union and a coordinated response is essential to safeguarding both the integrity of the process and the interests of the Union as a whole.”

On the Union’s broader strategy ahead of the Conference, Hoekstra said what is needed is “long-term reform paired with short-term pragmatism,” thanking the Cyprus Presidency “for all the work and the conversations we’ve had on substance, on how to move forward, on how to have the conversation with our friends from Australia, but also with the UN, about this process.”

The Commissioner noted the broad agreement that the Union should “go all in on electrification,” that the energy transition “is indeed accelerating,” and that the aim is to use COP31 “as an opportunity to show how the Paris Agreement is being implemented.” As he put it, “implementation is the name of the game,” while member states will host pavilions to showcase investments in green technologies, sending the message that the European Union is “a reliable partner across the board.”

Hoekstra stressed the need for a “united front at COP31,” and to “be ambitious, but also firm on what we want.” He also clarified that “this year is not about finance,” something that, he said, had come through clearly in today’s Council discussion as well.

?he high-level conference “Strengthening islands and coastal communities of the European Union’, is taking place on Friday in Paphos, with the participation of President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, Maltese Prime Minister, Robert Abela, European Commissioners, Ministers from the Republic and other EU member states, and officials from European institutions.

European Commission Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, will present the European Union’s strategy for islands, while Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, will present the European Union’s strategy for coastal communities..

According to the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, the conference will bring together European leaders, ministers, senior policymakers, representatives of regional and island authorities, European institutions, experts and other stakeholders to discuss the future development of the European Union’s island and coastal regions.

The event will showcase the European Union’s new strategies for islands and coastal communities, reflecting the European Commission’s vision for strengthening economic competitiveness and diversification, supporting the sustainable blue economy, addressing climate change, and improving resilience and connectivity. The strategies will also seek to foster vibrant and inclusive local communities while promoting citizens’ right to remain in the places where they live.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus and Head of the UN peacekeeping mission, Khassim Diagne, briefed members of the diplomatic community on Thursday on the activities of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) ahead of his upcoming visit to New York to address the UN Security Council in July.

According to a post by UN Cyprus on X, Diagne welcomed diplomats for a briefing on UNFICYP activities on the island before his planned briefing to the UN Security Council in July.

During the meeting, Diagne also addressed the situation in the buffer zone and referred to ongoing activities carried out by the mission’s military, UN Police and Civil Affairs components aimed at reducing tensions and maintaining peace.

UN Cyprus said that multilateralism remains ‘our strongest tool to bridge divides and build lasting peace on the island.’

This year marks a historic turning point for the recovery of the griffon vulture population in Cyprus as for the first time since 2021 successful breeding activity was recorded, with five breeding pairs nesting in various areas of the island.

A joint press release from BirdLife Cyprus and the Game and Fauna Service says that this development comes just a few years after the loss of the last breeding pairs due to vulture poisoning incidents in 2022 and 2023 and is proof that efforts to strengthen the population are starting to bear fruit.

The five pairs are expected to contribute significantly to the recovery of the population, adding new individuals to a species that is still in a critical conservation status in Cyprus.

It is particularly encouraging that four of the five pairs include birds that were transferred from Spain as part of the LIFE project ‘Life with Vultures’ and have now reached breeding age.

The chicks will be ringed and equipped with GPS transmitters to monitor their movements, contributing to a better understanding of their behaviour and to their more effective protection after they leave the nest.

The press release says that the pairs nest in historical breeding areas of the species. Among these is a site that has not been used for nesting in the last 15 years, which suggests that the population is gradually starting to use traditional areas on the island again.

Four of the five breeding pairs include Spanish birds released in Cyprus in 2022 and 2023.

Of particular importance is the fifth pair, which consists of the last remaining individual of Cretan origin, a 13-year-old female transferred to Cyprus as part of the GYPAS project (2011-2014) and released in 2015, and a male bird born in Cyprus in 2021.

The breeding season of the Griffon Vulture, which usually extends from late winter to summer, is the most sensitive period for the species.

Human presence or intrusive activities near active nests, helicopter flights, recreational approaches or other sources of aerial and acoustic disturbance can force adult birds to temporarily or even permanently abandon the nest.

The press release also notes that for the protection of two nests located within the British Bases, additional measures have been taken to limit human disturbance during the breeding season.

In collaboration with the British Bases Administration, the Game and Fauna Service and BirdLife Cyprus, protection zones have been established around the nests, which will remain in force throughout the breeding season.

This measure was implemented as a preventive measure, with the aim of minimising the risk of disturbance to the birds and ensuring their successful breeding.

Although this year’s breeding success is a significant milestone, the Vulture remains among the most endangered bird species in Cyprus.

Illegal use of poisoned baits and electrocution from power lines continue to be the most serious threats to its survival, while the protection of nesting areas and the maintenance of suitable habitats remain critical for the long-term recovery of the population.

Albanian Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha referred on Thursday to the excellent work carried out by the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, during his meeting with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, at the Presidential Palace.

According to a Presidency statement, welcoming the Albanian Foreign Minister, President Christodoulides referred, among other things, to the shared commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations between Cyprus and Albania, while emphasizing the Republic of Cyprus’s support for Albania’s accession process.

For his part, Hoxha expressed his gratitude to the Government and the President personally, as well as to the Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, for the outstanding work carried out by the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, noting that ‘it was truly admirable.’

He added that ‘the issue of enlargement was handled exceptionally well, and we could not be more grateful. The Cypriot Presidency passed the test with flying colors in all areas.’

Children with disabilities must continue to dream Paola Frantzi told President Nikos Christodoulides during an event at the Presidential Palace, on Thursday, on special education and inclusion. Frantzi is the head of integrated education at KYSOA, the Cyprus Confederation of Organisations of the Disabled. She suffers from quadriplegia, is a holder of three degrees and currently studies for her PhD, as head of KYSOA Themis Anthopoulou said introducing her.

Speaking during the event, President Christodoulides announced the establishment of the Special Education and Inclusion Unit at the Ministry of Education, which will include all existing Special Education structures and services that currently operate in parallel. He noted that the aim is to have a common point of reference for parents.

Paola Frantzi spoke about her own experience in special education, the support she had from some of her teachers and the problems and difficulties she was faced with. She said that by seeing the positives in education, students will be able to face the problems as well.

Frantzi said that she dared to dream and continued doing so and she succeeded and now has a job. “The role of the education system is not only to complete your education and studies but also to give you the appropriate resources to enter the labour market,” she noted.

In his speech, the President of the Republic said that he wanted to listen to the children, their own experiences, thoughts and what they want to change. He added that these suggestions will be taken into account in the consultation that is already underway for the modernisation of Special Education legislation.

He said that he had concerns about Special Education from when he assumed office and for this reason the government took measures for an increase in school aides, specifically 474 additional positions in primary and 105 in secondary education. Among the decisions taken are also the continuous training of teachers, school assistants and aides, so that the daily support in the classroom is more substantial and qualitative.

President Christodoulides also referred to the construction of two new school units of the Special School of Apostolos Loukas and the Special School of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Limassol, recalling that all Special Schools now also operate in the summer, making it easier for families. He also recalled that a decision was taken for the schooling of children with disabilities up to the age of 22 and the right to parental leave for children with disabilities up to the age of 21.

As regards the special unit, with the participation of the Ministers of Education, Trade, Labour, Health and the Deputy Minister of Welfare, so that mid-July, the latest, the government will present a comprehensive proposal.

KYSOA Head Themis Anthopoulou in her comments said that no voice is louder, more honest, more interactive than the voice of the children who claim their own rights. She said that the future of Cyprus is its children and no discrimination should be made for children with disabilities.

Anthopoulou said that the consultation takes place on the basis of the 1999 legislation long before the UN Convention on Persons with Disabilities. She also said that behind and next to each of the children with disabilities there are parents fighting for their rights.

A discussion followed in the presence of parliamentarians, the Minister of Education, the Deputy Minister of Welfare and Social Insurance, the Deputy Minister to the President, the Ombudswoman and other officials.

Moreover a statement by the Presidency, says that in the final comment at the conclusion of the discussion, the President of the Republic said that he noted five points that he considers key for the subsequent course of the bill. These include a more personalised assessment and personalised solutions, building a culture where no bullying is tolerated, the responsibility of teachers and the future of children after the age of 22.

He also said that a new meeting would take place for assessment.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 25/06/2026 UNTIL 0600 26/06/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

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

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine but early morning and overnight locally increased low cloud will be present with risk of local mist and/or fog.

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

Sea surface temperature: 25°C

Warnings: NIL

The settlement of the Cyprus problem would make a decisive contribution to strengthening stability and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, House of Representatives President Annita Demetriou said during a meeting with Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, who is on a working visit to Cyprus.

According to a press release issued by the House of Representatives, Demetriou underlined the Greek Cypriot side’s commitment to the resumption of meaningful negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the Cyprus issue, on the basis of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the principles and values of the European Union.

She also expressed the expectation that Turkey would adopt a constructive stance in order to make the resumption of negotiations possible.

During the meeting, the House Speaker reaffirmed Cyprus’ steadfast support for the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries, stressing that the European Union’s enlargement policy constitutes a strategic investment in peace, stability and security in Europe.

Demetriou congratulated Albania on the progress it has achieved in its accession process and assured the Albanian Minister of Cyprus’ readiness to continue actively supporting these efforts.

Hoxha thanked Cyprus for its consistent support for Albania’s European course, as well as for the role played by the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union in advancing the enlargement process, the press release said.

The Albanian Minister also reaffirmed his country’s support for efforts to reach a solution to the Cyprus issue through dialogue, on the basis of international law and the principles of multilateralism.

The meeting also highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy and the need to further strengthen relations between the parliaments of Cyprus and Albania through increased exchanges at various levels.

The two sides exchanged views on regional and international developments, as well as on common challenges facing European states, including migration, energy security, defence and the maintenance of stability in the wider Mediterranean region, the press release concludes.