Category: Cyprus News Agency

The Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín, is expected to visit Cyprus before the end of the month, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday, noting that a joint meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader should take place during her visit.

Responding to a journalist at Episkopeio, a village in Nicosia district, where he delivered the memorial address at a national memorial service, the President said that ‘Holguín will be in Cyprus before the end of January. We are in contact with her.’

He added that prior to her visit to Cyprus, Holguín will also travel to several other countries, particularly in the context of preparatory work being carried out, in a bid to convene ‘an informal conference in broader format, as agreed, at which the resumption of talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana will be announced.’

According to President Christodoulides, there is ‘no inactivity whatsoever, developments are moving forward,’ noting that Holguín herself will announce her programme and the specific dates.

‘She will be in Cyprus before the end of the month. As part of her visit, a joint meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader should also take place,’ he underlined.

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, while former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, designated by the Commission as Special Envoy for Cyprus, is also expected to contribute to the settlement process, in cooperation with Holguín.

In 2025, a total of 11,742 migrants who were residing illegally in Cyprus were repatriated through voluntary and forced return procedures, the Police said in a statement.

By comparison, 10,092 persons were repatriated in 2024.

‘The strategy followed over the past three years appears to be yielding positive results in addressing migration flows,’ the Police said.

At the same time, according to data released by the Police, 2,444 irregular migrants arrived in Cyprus in 2025, compared to 6,109 arrivals in 2024. By comparison, in 2022, a total of 17,434 irregular migrants arrived in the country.

‘The Police’s efforts to identify and repatriate persons residing illegally in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus continue on a daily basis,’ the statement reads.

The bicomminal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage has launched maintenance and conservation works at the mosque in the community of Agios Thomas in Limassol District, as well as at the adjacent former school building.

According to a social media post by Ali Tuncay, the Turkish Cypriot Co-chair of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the protection works are being carried out with financial support from the European Union and technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Tuncay said the committee is continuing its efforts to safeguard cultural heritage sites and expressed his appreciation to the experts and workers involved in the project.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump sent an invitation to the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, for Cyprus to participate in the ‘Peace Council’ for Gaza, according to Cyprus News Agency sources.

Government sources confirmed the receipt of the relevant letter from President Trump to the President of the Republic, inviting Cyprus to take part as one of the 25 founding states of the Council.

The ‘Peace Council’ for Gaza is envisaged in Phase II of Trump’s peace plan. It is expected to include 25 countries, among them those that participated in the ceremony in Sharm El Sheikh, which President Christodoulides also attended.

Organizational preparations are under way for ‘Larnaca 2030′, as the city is poised host the European Capital of Culture in 2030. Early work includes strengthening the organization behind the bid and beginning outreach to artists expected to participate in events in the lead-up to the title year.

Kelly Diapouli, Artistic Director of Larnaca 2030, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the next formal step is the official designation by Cyprus’ Deputy Ministry of Culture. While the recommendation of the independent panel of experts has been issued, she noted that it is advisory and must be followed by a formal decision. Under the standard procedure, the Deputy Ministry is expected to endorse the recommendation, designate Larnaca accordingly, and inform the European Commission and the European Parliament.

‘Once that designation is made, Larnaca will officially be the European Capital of Culture for 2030,’ Diapouli said. She added that the first phase will be dominated by practical and organizational tasks, including the establishment and staffing of the implementing company. The organization will need to expand significantly from its current team of four to manage a program budgeted at pound 27 million.

Recruitment is already in motion. An open call, running until 30 January, has been issued for the positions of General Director and Communications and Marketing Manager. The aim, Diapouli said, is to fill the core posts by the end of the first quarter, meaning by March. Staffing of the artistic team will follow, while the first year after the official designation is expected to focus largely on governance, administration, and securing funding.

On financing, Diapouli said the Deputy Ministry of Culture has already announced pound 10 million in support. However, the timetable and terms of disbursements-when funds will be released and under what conditions-still need to be agreed so the company can begin operating and artistic work can scale up. She added that European Capitals of Culture are primarily funded through national and local resources, with the EU providing a pound 1.5 million contribution at the end of the process.

Under the budget plan submitted by Larnaca 2030, the Municipality of Larnaca will contribute pound 7.5 million and the Larnaca District Organization of Local Government pound 2 million. Sponsorships are expected to generate about pound 3.5 million, while a further pound 2 million is projected from competitive European funding programs.

Several activities are already planned for this year. One EU-funded ‘social art’ project will bring six international artists to Cyprus for a month to work with residents in the Tsakkilero and Agioi Anargyroi housing estates, creating works that will form part of a festival scheduled for October.

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 17/01/2026 UNTIL 0600 18/01/2026

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1018hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure starts affecting the area. The weather will be mainly cloudy at times with isolated showers, while local showers with risk of isolated thunderstorm are expected mainly from noon onwards.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 19°C

Warnings: NIL

Cyprus is bidding farewell on Saturday to former President of the Republic George Vassiliou, who died at the age of 94, with a state funeral awarding honours to a sitting head of state. Senior officials are attending the service, including Greece’s Foreign Minister.

Vassiliou’s body was scheduled to be transferred in the morning to the Church of Agia Sophia (Tou Theou Sofia) in Strovolos, carried on a gun carriage and accompanied by the Police Philharmonic Band. The family is receiving condolences at the church from 11:30, while the funeral service is scheduled to begin at 13:00.

Greece is being represented by Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, who is also expected to deliver a eulogy. Additional tributes are to be delivered by President Nikos Christodoulides, University of Cyprus Rector Tasos Christofides, Michalis Papapetrou on behalf of Vassiliou’s associates, and Vassiliou’s son, Evelthon Vassiliou. A representative of former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will also deliver a message. The burial is set to take place at the Aglantzia Municipal Cemetery, accompanied by honorary volleys.

An atmosphere of deep emotion preceded the funeral during a public viewing on Friday at the same church. Crowds of all ages-including colleagues and ordinary citizens-arrived to pay their respects, leaving flowers and writing messages in the condolence book. Among the tributes, Vassiliou’s driver of 26 years, Averof Moritsis, described him as a ‘second father’ and an ‘archon,’ while many visitors praised his character, modesty, and modernising work.

Vassiliou’s wife, Androulla, appeared grief-stricken but proud of what she called her husband’s legacy. She said, she lost ‘a companion in the literal sense of the word.’ She added that the former President died with an enduring longing for reunification, noting that until the end his concern and vision remained focused on a settlement to the Cyprus issue-while expressing hope that the democratic principles and unity he championed would not be lost.

Greece’s Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis paid an emotional tribute on Saturday to former Cyprus President George Vassiliou, describing him as ‘a pragmatist’ who helped lay the foundations of modern Cyprus and left an indelible mark on the island’s contemporary history.

Speaking on behalf of the Hellenic Republic at Vassiliou’s state funeral, in Nicosia’s Holy Wisdom Church, Gerapetritis praised the late leader’s calm temperament, conciliatory spirit and personal integrity, saying rare virtues coexisted in him – including broad learning and a deeply rooted democratic conscience. Vassiliou, he said, had elevated the art of compromise into a guiding principle and embodied the Aristotelian ideal of moderation ‘better than anyone.’

Gerapetritis highlighted Vassiliou’s reformist legacy, calling him the leader who ‘set the foundations for the Cyprus of the 21st century,’ helping build a modern, dynamic state despite the lasting wound of the 1974 invasion. He gave special emphasis to the establishment of the University of Cyprus, describing it as a major milestone in the island’s long and distinguished educational tradition.

On the Cyprus problem, the Greek Foreign Minister recalled Vassiliou’s steadfast commitment to international law and to engaging the international community. Cyprus, he said, continues Vassiliou’s ‘just struggle’ in full alignment with Greece.

He also underscored Vassiliou’s role as head of the negotiating team that led Cyprus into the European Union, describing this contribution as the ‘opus magnum’ of his public life – possibly more significant even than his presidential term.

‘Vassiliou brought this process to completion in exemplary fashion,’ Gerapetritis said, noting that Cyprus was technically prepared by the time the political process for accession was concluded.

Closing his address, Gerapetritis spoke of a ‘pragmatic patriot’ who kept his distance from demagoguery and easy slogans. He referred to Vassiliou’s close ties to Greece – including links to Vytina and Mytilene – and conveyed condolences on behalf of the wider Greek world.

‘Today Cyprus and all Hellenism bid you farewell as a worthy son,’ he said, ‘who left an indelible imprint on the island’s identity.’

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 17/01/2026 UNTIL 1200 18/01/2026

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1018hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure affecting the area. The weather will be mainly cloudy with local showers and risk of an isolated thunderstorm.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 19°C

Warnings: NIL

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos will travel to the Arab Republic of Egypt on Saturday, where he will have a bilateral meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty and attend a trilateral Summit with Greece’s Foreign Minister.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release that the agenda of the bilateral meeting of the two Foreign Ministers will include, among others, the further strengthening of Cyprus-Egypt cooperation, including in the energy sector, the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), EU-Egypt relations, the Cyprus issue, as well as regional developments.

Kombos will also participate in the Trilateral Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece.

The focus of the Summit will be the further strengthening of trilateral cooperation, regional developments, as well as issues related to EU-Egypt relations, the press release concluded.

The Republic of Cyprus assumed for a second time the Presidency of the Council of the EU on January 1st, 2026, for a period of six months, as part of a Trio Presidency along with Poland and Denmark.