Category: Cyprus News Agency

Head of European Investment Bank (EIB) Nadia Calviño has said that water and housing are the two key challenges in Cyprus and expressed her pride for the European support and impact of European investment in Cyprus.

Calvino was speaking to the press on Tuesday, before a meeting with the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides, who attended the joint meeting of the boards of the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund, in Limassol.

“I want to thank Cyprus for the warm welcome. We are having a very productive meeting which has allowed us also to see the impact of the investments we finance on the ground,” she said, adding that they have visited student residences in the Cyprus University of Technology as well as the Waste Water Treatment Plant in Limassol.

On his part, President Christodoulides thanked for the support of EIB in Cyprus for a number of projects all these years, adding that Cyprus is looking forward to their future cooperation.

“We are looking forward to our future cooperation, especially on issues of great interest for the Republic of Cyprus like defence and security, research and innovation. We are going to discuss this during our bilateral meeting,” the President noted.

Meanwhile, Calviño said that they have adopted in Cyprus the second phase of the climate road map.

“We will be focusing on projects that contribute to competitiveness and security of Europe. We are going to be doubling investment into adaptation and prevention on the impact of climate change a challenge that is very clear also here in Cyprus and we will be radically simplifying our processes to reduce cost and red tape for companies, particularly Small and Medium-sized companies,” she concluded.

Attorney General George Savvides and Deputy Attorney General Savvas Angelides are traveling to The Hague on Wednesday to attend the work of the 19th Meeting of the Consultative Forum of the Prosecutors General and the Heads of Criminal Prosecutions of the EU member states (Eurojust Consultative Forum), scheduled for 2 and 3 October.

A Law Office press release says that the participants are expected to debate on issues related to violating and circumventing EU sanctions, the fight against criminal organizations and the fight against online investment fraud.

On the sidelines of the Forum, Savvides and Angelides will participate in a preparatory meeting with the Attorneys General from the outgoing and incoming countries holding the EU rotating Presidency, namely Denmark, Poland and Ireland.

They will coordinate the work of the 20th Forum, which Cyprus will co-chair with Ireland, on the occasion of the two countries assuming the Presidency, in 2026.

During their visit to The Hague, the heads of the Law Office will attend the celebrations organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, on the occasion of the anniversary of Cyprus Independence on October 1.

To mark Cyprus Independence Day, the famous Manneken Pis statue in Brussels will be dressed in a specially tailored Cypriot traditional men’s costume, the vraka, during an event organized by the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the City of Brussels.

The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, October 1, at 1:00 PM, in the presence of Cyprus’s Ambassador to the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC), Petros Mavrikios, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event serves as a symbolic bridge between Belgian and Cypriot culture, highlighting the importance of independence and national identity.

Manneken Pis is an iconic symbol of Brussels. The 55.5-centimeter-tall bronze fountain sculpture, located in the city center, is regularly dressed in various costumes on a nearly daily basis, with a collection exceeding a thousand different outfits. Since 2017, the costumes-including the Cypriot vraka-have been displayed at the GardeRobe MannekenPis, a museum dedicated exclusively to the statue, located on the same street in Brussels’ historic center.

The vraka was donated to the City of Brussels by the Cypriot Embassy in 2010 ahead of Cyprus Independence Day, and is exhibited in the museum’s “Manneken Pis, a very European Bruxellois” section, alongside other national costumes of EU member states.

The Republic of Cyprus is committed to the implementation of the Great Sea Interconnector project, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Tuesday, adding that there is a provision of 25 million euros in the budgets of both 2025 and 2026.

Furthermore, he noted that the longer the implementation of the project is delayed, it touches on other aspects, including financial ones.

In statements to the media before attending the meeting of the European Investment Bank in Limassol, President Christodoulides referring to the GSI recalled that he had met with the Greek Prime Minister earlier this month in New York and that “we have issued a joint press release. The longer the implementation is delayed, this is not positive. It is something that burdens and touches on other aspects, including financial ones”.

“The Republic of Cyprus is committed to the implementation of this specific project and for this reason, in the state budget of 2025 and 2026 there is a provision of 25 million” euros, he stressed.

Replying to another question, the President said that “it is important that certain things are implemented, when they are delayed this affects the viability of the project, they also affect other issues”.

Replying to a journalist’s remark that the Minister of Finance has stated that if Cyprus returns the 67 million euro EU funding for the natural gas terminal in Vasilikos then the Cypriot economy will be at risk, President Christodoulides referred to the state of the Cypriot economy, expressing satisfaction with the fact that next year’s state budget has a surplus and is a development budget once again with increased spending on development projects, but also on social benefits, more than in 2025.

He continued by saying that public debt has decreased, unemployment is at 2008 levels, and the Cypriot economy is being upgraded, something that had not been achieved since 2011.

Concluding, he said that he will refer to all the above economic figures during the meeting he will have with the executives of the European Investment Bank.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a trusted partner for Cyprus, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides has said, noting the Bank’s crucial support both during times of crisis and in the country’s ongoing path of reform and steady economic growth.

Addressing Tuesday the EIB Board Retreat in Limassol, the President also said that Europe must now pursue autonomy across security, the economy and trade, stressing that the European Investment Bank has a central role in turning that vision into reality. He stressed that for Cyprus – the EU’s last divided member state and a bridge between Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean – the Bank’s mission holds particular significance, having long supported the country’s reforms, recovery and growth.

‘Moreover, this ongoing support has complemented our own efforts to build a resilient and forward-looking economy, with great emphasis on reforms. That is our driving force, our vision – reforms that modernize our state, creating accountability, transparency, opportunity. Fulfilling our responsibility to the citizens who put their faith in us to deliver. And we are accountable only to them, to our citizens,’ Christodoulides said.

Despite global turbulence, he added, Cyprus’ economy has shown steady strength. He noted that GDP grew by 3.4% in 2024 and is expected to exceed 3% in 2025. Public debt is set to drop to 58% of GDP by year-end and fall further to 42-43% by 2026, while unemployment has fallen below 4.9%, the lowest since 2008. He also said that the country has secured investment-grade A-level ratings from all major agencies, marking the first time since 2011 it holds such recognition.

‘This is the path we will continue walking as Government: of fiscal responsibility and stability. That is the only path that opens the way for social policies with impact in education, health, housing, social welfare,’ he said.

EIB’s an ‘enduring and steadfast’ partner

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Christodoulides credited the EIB as an enduring and steadfast partner in Cyprus’ growth, with investments of more than pound 5.7 billion making the country the largest per capita beneficiary among EU members. Beyond major infrastructure and energy security, he noted that the Bank has supported SMEs and startups with flexible financing, expert advice, and development assistance.

He cited the Cyprus Entrepreneurship Fund, which expanded financing for small businesses, and the Cyprus Equity Fund, the first public-private fund to provide early-stage capital to startups.

‘Through these projects, and essentially by enhancing the capacity of Cypriot enterprises, backing strategic initiatives, and aligning European priorities with national needs, the EIB has delivered visible benefits that have had a real impact on the everyday lives of our citizens,’ Christodoulides said.

The President noted that Cyprus, as the Union’s southeastern corner and last divided member state under military occupation, has a unique role as both a safe harbor and a bridge between Europe and the complex Eastern Mediterranean region. This, he said, gives added weight to the EIB’s mission in smaller economies like Cyprus.

Cyprus EU Presidency in 2026

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Looking to the first half of 2026, when Cyprus will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, Christodoulides said the milestone comes at a critical time.

‘A moment of immense responsibility and opportunity lies ahead for Cyprus,’ he said, stressing that the country will act ‘as a genuine honest broker, working in a results-oriented way and in close cooperation with all Member States and EU institutions.’

As he said, the presidency will focus on defense and security, civil protection, migration and border management, water resilience, affordable housing, and competitiveness. Christodoulides also underscored the importance of simplifying EU procedures to enable businesses to thrive.

Christodoulides stressed that the upcoming negotiations on the EU’s long-term budget will be central to Cyprus’s presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026.

He further said that the upcoming negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget would be a top priority for Cyprus’s presidency in 2026. He noted that the Multiannual Financial Framework must reflect and support the Union’s strategic vision, while underlining that the European Investment Bank is expected to take on a greater role in mobilizing funds and financing the critical investments needed to deliver on the EU’s priorities.

In this context, he underlined that cooperation with the EIB would remain indispensable, to ensure ‘that our goals are not only ambitious in vision but also effective in practice’.

‘Together, we can translate strategic priorities into tangible outcomes, demonstrating the power of cooperation and the shared commitment that underpins the European project. In this respect, we look forward to your support for EU and national priorities, like security and defense, research and innovation etc,’ he said.

A call for EU autonomy and action

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Christodoulides described the EU as standing at ‘a crossroad, at an inflection point.’ He warned of challenges ranging from geopolitical instability to the pressures of green and digital transitions.

‘There is no space or time for hesitation or complacency. Now is the time for decisive urgent action,’ he said.

‘Now is the time for autonomy – from our standing as a global actor and our security to our economy and trade. Autonomy across the board,’ he said, stressing that Europe’s resilience and unity must be strengthened by deepening international partnerships, particularly with the Eastern Mediterranean and the Greater Middle East.

Closing his address, Christodoulides reaffirmed Cyprus’s constructive stance and the importance of collaboration with the EIB on EU and national priorities such as security, defense, research, and innovation. ‘Rest assured that Cyprus will always be part of the solution and never part of the problem,’ he concluded.

Minister of Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, focused on the pillars of the comprehensive housing policy implemented by the Republic of Cyprus over the last two years, during his intervention at the High-Level Conference on Affordable Housing, organised within the framework of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in Copenhagen, a press release issued by the Interior Ministry said..

According to the press release, Ioannou elaborated on the two axes of Cyprus’ housing policy, namely the increase in the housing stock, with an emphasis on the production of affordable housing, and the strengthening of citizens’ purchasing power, especially of those who are socio-economically vulnerable.

The press release said that the participants welcomed the actions taken by the Republic of Cyprus to manage the housing problem in the country, taking note of the fact that they are in the right direction and in line with the pillars on which the European Union’s housing policy will be based.

Additionally, in his intervention, Ioannou underlined the need to find, at the European level, tools to finance citizens and enhance their access to affordable housing options. In this direction, the Cypriot Minister conveyed his country’s proposal for a different approach as regards the taxation related to affordable housing projects. This specific position was supported by the majority of those who attended the conference, the press release said.

Ioannou also referred to the political priorities that will be promoted in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026 in relation to the issue of housing. He extended an invitation to his counterparts to attend the Informal Meeting to be held in Cyprus next May, at which the conclusions of the European Affordable Housing Plan will be examined while at the same time the roadmap for the integration of affordable housing into the Cohesion Policy for the period 2028-2035 will be defined.

The conference was held in the presence of the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jorgensen, with the participation of Ministers and officials of the competent authorities of the member states, representatives of Local Government Authorities and representatives of EU institutions for housing, the press release said.

The Index of Industrial Output Prices for August 2025 reached 122.8 units (base 2021=100), recording a 0.9% decrease, compared to the corresponding month of the previous year, according to the Statistic Service.

Compared to the corresponding month of the previous year, an increase was recorded in mining and quarrying (8.6%) and manufacturing (1.1%), while a decrease was shown in the sectors of electricity supply (-8.2%) and water supply and materials recovery (-5.2%).

By division of economic activity in manufacturing, in August 2025 compared to the corresponding month of the previous year, increases were recorded in the manufacture of paper and paper products and printing (4.4%), the manufacture of furniture, other manufacturing and repair and installation of machinery and equipment (4.3%), the manufacture of textiles, wearing apparel and leather products (2.9%), the manufacture of electronic and optical products and electrical equipment (2.6%), the manufacture of refined petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products and pharmaceutical products and preparations (2.5%) and the manufacture of machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and other transport equipment (2%), while a decrease was recorded in the manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco products (-0.2%).

Compared to July 2025, the index remained stable. The index remained stable in the manufacturing sector, while it showed an increase in mining and quarrying by 0.8% and electricity supply by 0.1%. A decrease was recorded in the sector of water supply and materials recovery (-0.2%).

For the period January-August 2025, the index showed a decrease of 0.4% compared to the corresponding period of 2024.

Cyprus and Ireland share long-standing, excellent relations that are anchored on common values and respect for rules-based international order and multilateralism, said Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, before her meeting with Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, on Tuesday in Nicosia.

She added that they would discuss shared priorities and important files, as well as ensuring that there is coherence and coordination in view of the two countries’ consecutive Presidencies of the Council of the European Union.

On his part, Byrne said that ‘it is a great time for a small country to take on that leadership role in the European Union. We are here to get results.”

In her statements, Raouna said that the visit takes place almost two months before the inauguration of the Cyprus EU Presidency and is particularly important because Ireland is the next Presidency of the Council of the EU.

She added that the visit provides the opportunity for both countries to coordinate on the important dossiers they will jointly manage, such as the Multiannual Financial Framework.

‘Cyprus and Ireland share long-standing, excellent relations that are anchored on common values, on respect for rules-based international order and multilateralism, as well as shared historical experiences’, stressed the Deputy Minister.

‘Your visit is important, given its timing as well. We are gearing ahead for our Presidency of the Council, and the Presidency that starts immediately after with the next Trio. I very much look forward to discussing together our shared priorities and important files, and ensuring that there is coherence and coordination,’ she concluded.

On his part, Thomas Byrne said that two small countries, Cyprus and Ireland, are following each other in the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

‘It is a great time for a small country to take on that leadership role in the European Union. We are here to get results. We are here to see what Marilena has in mind and I will be setting out what Ireland has in mind for the second half of next year,’ he continued.

‘There will undoubtedly be a lot going on. The Multiannual Financial Framework, security and defence, competitiveness in the world, to make sure the EU can continue to provide jobs and economic opportunities to people,’ he further noted.

‘Also to make sure as well that our values are respected, our human rights, our rule of law. That is something that we can preserve and maintain within the European Union, but also make sure that we use those values and found all our doings as a European Union on those values. We are looking forward to the discussions here in Nicosia and looking forward in particular to the Cyprus Presidency next year’, the Irish Minister concluded

President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, has said that it is a positive development that for the first time in 8 years there is some movement as regards efforts to solve the Cyprus issue.

Kaklamanis was addressing a special session of the House of Representatives plenary in Nicosia, where he is paying an official visit.

On her part, the President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, pointed out that the first official visit of Nikitas Kaklamanis to Cyprus as President of the Hellenic Parliament ‘entails high symbolism, but is also an act of fundamental political importance’, because ‘it demonstrates the strong historical ties between Greece and Cyprus and demonstrates the will of our two states to maintain a solid common front of Athens and Nicosia’.

Demetriou noted, inter alia, that ‘the strong fraternal bonds, the solidarity and the coexistence of Greece and Cyprus are reflected in the excellent cooperation between our two Parliaments over time, with a milestone in this cooperation being the publication of the ‘Cyprus File’, an extremely difficult undertaking, which contributes decisively to the goal of national self-awareness’.

She also assured that the House of Representatives will continue to work to further strengthen and expand cooperation with the Greek Parliament at all levels.

In his address, the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, pointed out that Greece and Cyprus have made it clear that a solution to the Cyprus problem is not conceivable without the complete withdrawal of the illegal occupation troops and without the liberation of Cyprus from anachronistic systems of guarantees and rights of third-party intervention in Cypriot affairs.

He noted that it is a positive development that for the first time in 8 years there is some movement in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, at the initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

He also assured that, despite the climate of tension in the Hellenic Parliament, Cyprus is one of the few issues that unites the political parties in the Parliament.

Demetriou expresses gratitude for Greece’s support in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem

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Addressing Kaklamanis, Annita Demetriou said that his first official visit to Cyprus, after his election to the presidency of the Hellenic Parliament, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Cyprus “entails high symbolism, but is also an act of fundamental political importance”, because “it demonstrates the unbreakable historical ties between Greece and Cyprus and expresses the will of our two states to maintain a solid common front of Athens and Nicosia.”

The House President noted that the Republic of Cyprus has gone through a difficult course, marked by the coup of the Greek junta and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. ‘Fifty-one years later,’ she went on to say, ‘the Cypriot people are experiencing the traumatic consequences of the continued occupation of over 36% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, the forcible displacement of one-third of the population from their ancestral homes, the flagrant violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, of our missing persons and their families, who are anxiously seeking information about their fate.’

‘The arrest, in mid-July, of five Greek Cypriots displaced by the illegal occupation regime when they wanted to visit their properties in their occupied village, constitutes a political act of intimidation and reprisals orchestrated by Turkey for the prosecution by the Republic of Cyprus of foreign usurpers of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas,’ she stressed, reiterating that their immediate release is the only way out.

Annita Demetriou expressed deep gratitude for Greece’s unwavering support and cooperation in the consistent and uninterrupted efforts made by the Greek Cypriot side to resolve the Cyprus problem and reunify the country and its people, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and European values and principles. ‘We, as the House of Representatives, particularly appreciate the support of the Hellenic Parliament in every initiative and action we take, which aims to condemn the lawlessness against Cyprus and to compel Turkey to comply with international law and its Cyprus-related obligations towards the European Union,’ she stressed.

At the same time, she assured that ‘despite the arrogance and intransigence of occupying Turkey, we remain firmly committed to the goal of resuming substantive negotiations, within the framework of the UN, to achieve a viable and functional solution, which will free Cyprus from anachronistic guarantees and occupation troops.’ ‘We cannot, under any circumstances, accept the Turkish side’s demand for a ‘two-state’ solution, which would constitute a legitimization of the faits accomplis of the Turkish invasion and occupation. We seek a mutually beneficial solution, which will be a beacon of peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in our wider region’, she underlined.

‘It is up to Turkey to decide whether it wants to be part of this equation’, Demetriou pointed out, adding that Turkey is moving in the opposite direction and is increasingly moving away from the fundamental principles and values of the European Union, which it aspires to join. ‘And while its degree of alignment with the European Union’s common foreign and security policy reaches only 5%, it claims its participation in the new European defense and security architecture’, she noted.

‘The international community’s response to Turkey’s beloved ‘gunboat diplomacy’ should certainly not be appeasement and the logic of double standards. The parallel between what happened in Cyprus and what is happening in Ukraine is obvious’, she pointed out.

Subsequently, the President of the Parliament said that ‘a country that maintains the threat of war against Greece, illegally occupies the territory of a member state of the European Union, attempts to create new faits accomplis within the buffer zone and in Famagusta and continues to violate the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus, brandishing the doctrine of the ‘Blue Homeland’, cannot have a role in the European defence and security architecture’.

‘The illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum is another illustrative example of Turkish revisionism and blatant disregard for the rights deriving from the International Law of the Sea’, she noted.

‘Our neighbourhood is at the centre of major geopolitical turmoil and geostrategic confrontations that require vigilance, strategic planning and readiness. Greece and Cyprus are pillars of security and stability in a highly unstable region and have deservedly earned, as reliable partners, respect and trust internationally, a fact that is reflected in the building of solid alliances and strategic partnerships of mutual benefit with strong partners, always with respect for international law’, said Annita Demetriou.

‘However, the recognition, on the part of the international community, of the strategic value and contribution of Greece and Cyprus must be reflected primarily in practical solidarity against the Turkish threat, which our two countries face and which for Cyprus is clearly existential’, she stressed.

Referring to the current challenges facing Europe and the world, the House President pointed out that ‘no state can cope alone with the very difficult times we are going through.’ As she said, ‘collectivity and real solidarity are needed. Strong leadership and greater determination are needed to shield democracy against the rise of populism, extremism, hatred, disinformation and the undermining of democratic institutions. Greater social integration and participation are needed to regain the trust of the citizens we represent, especially young people,’ she added.

Referring to the upcoming assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union by the Republic of Cyprus, Annita Demetriou said that ‘as the House of Representatives, we intend to respond in the best possible way to the promotion and support of the priorities and objectives of the Cyprus Presidency, highlighting the crucially important role of parliaments and the added value of parliamentary diplomacy in building a stronger, more resilient and even more democratic Union, which places the security and well-being of its citizens at the heart of its policies’.

‘The unbreakable fraternal bonds, the solidarity and the coexistence of Greece and Cyprus are reflected in the long-standing excellent cooperation between our two Parliaments, with a milestone in this cooperation being the publication of the ‘Cyprus File’, an extremely difficult undertaking, which contributes decisively to the goal of national self-awareness’, she stressed.

At the same time, she assured that the House of Representatives will continue to work to further strengthen and expand cooperation with the Hellenic Parliament at all levels. “A multi-level partnership, guided by the active participation of our parliaments in international and European affairs. A synergy, which will include joint initiatives and actions, aimed at promoting the well-intentioned interests of the two countries and at practical solidarity and support of the international community in defending the rights of Hellenism, on the basis of principles and as an indication of the significant contribution of Greece and Cyprus to the goal of regional peace and stability”, she underlined.

Addressing her Greek counterpart and referring to his long political career, Annita Demetriou said that she is well aware that Cyprus has always had a prominent position in his heart and was never absent from his actions.

Kaklamanis: There is no solution to the Cyprus problem without the withdrawal of occupying troops

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In his address, the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, said that his vision is to see the Republic of Cyprus united again, for the benefit of all Cypriots.

‘In all the positions in which I have been elected by the Greek people, whether as a Member of Parliament since 1990, or as a Member of the European Parliament, or as Mayor of Athens, I have taken initiatives to highlight the Cyprus issue, which constitutes one of the most characteristic examples of a blatant violation of the principles and rules of International Law,’ he pointed out, adding that he will do the same in his capacity as President of the Hellenic Parliament, utilising all the possibilities that exist within the framework of parliamentary diplomacy, in cooperation with his Cypriot counterpart, ‘to end the illegal occupation of Cyprus, to overturn the fait accompli of military violence, to restore international legitimacy.’

‘This constitutes a minimal debt for Greece and the political forces: a debt to all the fighters who fought for the independence of Cyprus, to all the heroes who defended the freedom of Cyprus and who resisted with unparalleled courage the numerically superior forces of Attila in the Turkish invasion of July-August 1974, under the unbearable burden of the criminal coup that preceded it,’ he stressed.

Since 1974, he continued, ‘successive governments of Greece and Cyprus have agreed that ending the illegal occupation is an entirely feasible goal, with the search for and achievement of a comprehensive, mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus issue, within the framework of negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General.’

‘The framework for the negotiations, of course, can only be the relevant binding Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council,’ Nikitas Kaklamanis pointed out. At the same time, he noted that ‘Greece and Cyprus have made it clear that a solution to the Cyprus problem is not conceivable without the complete withdrawal of the illegal occupation troops and without the liberation of Cyprus from anachronistic systems of guarantees and rights of third-party intervention in Cypriot affairs.’

‘Nor, of course, is a solution conceivable without the unhindered implementation of the European acquis throughout the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, a member state of the European Union for more than twenty years,’ he pointed out. ‘The European acquis constitutes, moreover, the best guarantee for the respect of the rights of our displaced Greek Cypriot brothers and their families, but also of all Cypriot citizens, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins’, he added.

‘It is a positive development that for the first time in 8 years some movement is being recorded on the Cyprus issue, at the initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the Republic of Cyprus’, he underlined.

‘The Cyprus issue is currently high on the agenda of the United Nations, while the European Union is also claiming a more active role, in all stages of the negotiation process for the resolution of the Cyprus issue, under the auspices of the United Nations’, he said.

‘The informal expanded meetings convened by Mr. Guterres in Geneva and New York, in March and July respectively, with the participation of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey and the Deputy Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom are in principle a positive step,’ he said.

The President of the Hellenic Parliament expressed the hope that these meetings and the meetings subsequently planned by the United Nations can lead to the resumption of negotiations for the resolution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed United Nations framework. ‘This is in the interest of all Cypriots, including Turkish Cypriots,’ he noted.

‘Any insistence on demands for a two-state solution is against the framework of the United Nations, unacceptable and out of question,’ he stressed, adding that ‘actions such as the illegal detention of five Greek Cypriot citizens in the Turkish-occupied territories since July 19 do not contribute in any way to establishing a climate of trust between the two communities, as the Secretary-General of the United Nations seeks.’

Kaklamanis unequivocally condemned the illegal detention of Greek Cypriot citizens in the occupied territories and called for their unconditional release and return to their family homes.

He also assured that ‘in Greece, despite the prevailing climate of political acrimony, Cyprus is one of the few issues that unites all political forces within the Greek Parliament.’

Despite these challenges, he said, “the Republic of Cyprus has remained steadfast in its goal of resolving the Cyprus problem through negotiations within the framework of the United Nations.’

“Of course, we should not be under any illusions. The resolution of the Cyprus problem presupposes a change in Turkey’s stance”, which “requires, among other things, the constant awareness of the international community for the need to return to the negotiating table on the basis of the agreed framework of the United Nations”, Nikitas Kaklamanis pointed out.

What is certain, as he said, “is that in this great international cause of the resolution of the Cyprus problem, Greece supports the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus both through bilateral coordination and within the framework of the Security Council, as in the case of the final formulation and unanimous adoption of the most recent, resolution no. 2771/2025 Decision, but also in its other bilateral and multilateral contacts, as the restoration of the unity of the island is a duty of the entire international community’.

‘The bonds between Greece and Cyprus are indissoluble. We are connected by our history, our language, our religion, our common national struggles’, he stressed.

‘The close cooperation between Greece and Cyprus is today a valuable asset of stability, development and prosperity in this troubled corner of the planet and especially in this geopolitical context of multiple challenges’, said the President of the Hellenic Parliament.

‘Greece is Cyprus’s largest trading partner, while for Greece Cyprus is also one of its most important trading partners’, he noted. ‘The largest part of foreign direct investment in Cyprus comes from Greece. A significant part of Greek-owned commercial shipping flies the Cypriot flag,’ he said, adding that ‘our relations are constantly expanding and deepening.’

‘I recently had the pleasure of welcoming to the Hellenic Parliament the Rector of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens following the decision of the historic and largest University of Greece to open a Branch, faculties and departments in Nicosia and Larnaca, something that was made possible thanks to the support of you, the President and the Minister of Education of the Republic of Cyprus,’ he pointed out.

‘Our two countries also cooperate closely not only to further expand their bilateral relations, but also to jointly undertake initiatives with third countries to promote stability and development,’ said Nikitas Kaklamanis. He also stated that the cooperation between Greece and Cyprus is expanding at the parliamentary level, in a number of areas, noting that “the strengthening of the cooperation between the two Parliaments and their services is our long-standing mutual concern”.

At the same time, he assured that the Hellenic Parliament, its services and officials are committed to working tirelessly to intensify their cooperation with the House of Representatives.

He also said that within the framework of parliamentary diplomacy, the Hellenic Parliament is willing to undertake, in cooperation with the House of Representatives, appropriate initiatives to highlight the Cyprus problem and the urgent need to resolve it.

The continuous awareness-raising of the international community is a powerful tool of support in this direction, he stressed.

Referring to the anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Cyprus, the President of the Parliament said that there cannot be – both in Cyprus and in Greece – a contemplation on the need for a just and sustainable solution for Cyprus and all Cypriot citizens, on the need to clarify the fate of the last of the remaining Greek and Greek Cypriot Missing Persons. At the same time, he pointed out that the anniversary of Cyprus’ independence is the anniversary of “a country that, despite the heavy blow of the Turkish invasion, is a pillar of stability in our wider region. A country that the events that followed the 1974 invasion did not stop the development and progress in the free part of the island, but, on the contrary, implemented the “Cyprus economic miracle” and is today an admirable pole of prosperity and development in the vital region of the Eastern Mediterranean. A country that is a member of the great European family and the eurozone that in 3 months will assume for the second time the increased responsibility of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union”.

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.

UNSG met with the two leaders President Christodoulides and T/c leader Ersin Tatar last week in New York city. A fresh meeting will probably take place in November. In the meantime his personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin is expected in Cyprus the next weeks to prepare the new meeting.

Cyprus will be at the heart of the global shipping industry from 6-8 October, as it hosts the Maritime Cyprus 2025 International Conference in Limassol under the theme ‘Unlocking the Future.of Shipping.’

Presenting the conference at a press briefing, Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis said the event comes at a crucial moment for the maritime sector, facing both challenges and opportunities. She stressed that the government is proud of a 36-year-old institution that has grown into one of the world’s leading shipping conferences.

‘This year, our aim was to enrich the conference further, both in terms of distinguished speakers and in the scope of topics, so that it fully reflects the modern challenges and opportunities of the industry,’ she said.

Hadjimanolis pointed out that shipping is a vital pillar of the Cypriot economy, requiring flexibility and innovation to remain competitive. She noted that government priorities include strengthening the Cyprus registry, attracting new ships and companies, simplifying procedures, enhancing safety and service quality, and embracing digital transformation. Investment in human capital, she added, is also key, through education and training of new seafarers and maritime professionals.

President of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners Polys Hajioannou, said the conference is expected to attract a strong presence of foreign shipowners, particularly from Greece. He noted that this year’s discussions coincide with the upcoming Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting at the IMO, with shipowners seeking clarity on future fuel rules that have created uncertainty across the industry.

Meanwhile, Cyprus Shipping Chamber President Andreas Neophytou welcomed the conference as one of the sector’s leading global gatherings. Since 1989, he said, Maritime Cyprus has become a world-renowned institution thanks to close cooperation between government, the shipping administration, and industry stakeholders. He highlighted that the event takes place as shipping grapples with major challenges, especially decarbonisation, which will reshape shipbuilding technologies, fuels, and operational practices.

According to Christiana Patsiou, Acting Director of the Shipping Cluster Development and Competitiveness Directorate, more than 900 delegates from 35 countries and over 40 speakers will take part. A Shipping Services Exhibition with more than 40 exhibitors from Cyprus and abroad will also run alongside the event.

In the opening ceremony on Monday, 6 October, President Nikos Christodoulides, will present the Cyprus Shipping Award. Attendees will include the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, EU Commissioners, and leaders of major shipping associations such as ECSA and BIMCO, as well as foreign ministers.