Category: Cyprus News Agency

Turkey has excluded itself from participating in the European SAFE programme, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Saturday.

He was replying to journalists questions upon his arrival at the Annual General Meeting of the Cyprus Building Contractors Association, in Nicosia.

He noted that the participation of any third country requires a security agreement with the EU and the consent of its 27 member states, including the Republic of Cyprus.

Asked to comment on yesterday’s statement by a European Commission spokesperson, according to which Turkey’s application for the SAFE programme does not seem to be moving forward, and whether he believes that this development is the result of pressure from Greece, Cyprus, and other partners, or simply a change in strategy on the part of Turkey, the President of the Republic said that “Turkey has excluded itself” from participating in the European Union’s SAFE financial instrument.

“The participation of any third country requires a security agreement between that third country and the European Union, a security agreement that requires the consent of the 27 member states of the European Union, including, of course, the Republic of Cyprus,” he added.

Cyprus’ defence industry is ‘very promising’ and we want to strengthen it even further, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday.

Speaking to journalists after the ceremony of awarding the green beret to the 2025 National Guardsmen and asked to comment on the event, he said: ‘We feel nothing but pride for the new commandos, pride for the National Guard, for the officers, the privates of the National Guard.’

He reiterated that, in addition to the ongoing Turkish occupation, the fact that Cyprus is in an area of particular geostrategic importance, and a member state of the European Union, ‘strengthening the Republic of Cyprus’ deterrence with actions and not words, is a top priority of our government’.

It was precisely within this framework that the Council of Ministers approved on Thursday the list armament programmes within the framework of the EU SAFE Regulation, which amounts to almost pound 1.2 billion, he said. He added that it is within the same framework, ‘that we are in advanced consultations with the United States to take advantage of the opportunity they have given us with the decision to include the Republic of Cyprus in United States defence programmes’, and that it is within this framework ‘that we are upgrading our infrastructure in Paphos and Limassol’.

He said that ‘there is an important dimension’ as regards SAFE, noting that it also concerns Cypriot companies that can meet the needs of the National Guard, and that, with regard to potential purchases from third EU countries, following a decision of the Council of Ministers, the participation of at least by 15% of Cypriot companies will be included in the agreement clause.

‘There is a very promising Cypriot defence industry, which we want to strengthen even further’ the President said.

Finance Minister Makis Keravnos discussed on Friday issues relating to preparations for Cyprus’ upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU with the Secretary-General of the European Commission, Ilze Juhansone, who is on a working visit to Cyprus.

According to a statement from the Ministry, the discussion focused on the three main priorities of the Presidency concerning the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, the continuation of the European Union’s financial support to Ukraine, and the issue of Capital Markets Union.

It is added that the Minister of Finance assured the Secretary-General of the European Commission that Cyprus will work productively during its Presidency to achieve the best possible outcome in advancing these important dossiers.

The strategic role of culture in defending European values and democratic resilience, the recent announcement of the “Cultural Compass for Europe,” and the AgoraEU program within the framework of the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034, were the main discussion points at the Culture Council meeting held on November 28 in Brussels, with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Culture, Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou.

This was the last Council meeting before Cyprus takes over the Presidency of the Council of the EU.

According to a Deputy Ministry statement, the Council approved on Friday conclusions on the strategic role of culture, cultural heritage, and audiovisual works in defending European values and democratic resilience.

As stated, on behalf of Cyprus, the Deputy Minister welcomed the text of the conclusions, noting that it demonstrates the strategic role of culture, cultural heritage, and audiovisual works in defending European values and strengthening democratic resilience, especially amid growing social and geopolitical challenges, adding that the Conclusions represent a coherent and ambitious commitment to the way in which culture actively contributes to the democratic life of the Union.

The European Commission then presented the “Cultural Compass for Europe.” In her speech, Kassianidou thanked the Commission for this proposal, which sets out the European Union’s strategic framework for culture, while emphasising that the Compass is an important step towards strengthening the democratic resilience, social cohesion, and international presence of the European Union, with culture at its heart. Furthermore, she stressed that the upcoming Cyprus Presidency will work constructively to promote the process relating to the Joint Declaration on the Compass for Culture.

It is also noted that in the context of the discussion on the establishment of AgoraEU, the proposed EU programme for the period 2028-2034 to support culture, media, democracy, rights, and European values, the Deputy Minister noted that in a time of geopolitical change and technological acceleration, the cultural and creative sectors are fundamental pillars of democratic resilience, citizen trust, and quality information.

In her concluding remarks, she pointed out that the upcoming Cyprus Presidency aims to make substantial progress on the text for the AgoraEU programme and, if possible, to achieve a general partial approach.

The Council adopted Presidency Conclusions on access to reliable news in the context of the European Democracy Shield, with the support of 26 Member States, with Cyprus adopting the conclusions.

Finally, it is stated that at the last Council meeting under the Danish Presidency on Culture and Sport, Kassianidou presented to her counterparts the programme of the upcoming Cyprus Presidency in the field of culture, while inviting her counterparts to participate in the Informal Council on Culture to be held in Nicosia on March 6, 2026.

Greek Cypriot negotiator, Menelaos Menelaou, and the representative of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Dana, had a ‘good’ discussion during their meeting on Friday, CNA was informed.

Menelaou and Dana had a two-hour meeting, in which, according to CNA information, they had a ‘good discussion’ following that of the two leaders earlier this month.

The meeting took place in the context of the preparatory work being carried out in view of the visit to Cyprus early December of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Maria Angela Holguin.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 28/11/2025 UNTIL 0600 29/11/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1019hPa (hectopascal)

Weak high pressure is affecting the area. Increased medium and high cloud will be present at times.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 23°C

Warnings: NIL

Deputy Minister of Culture Vasiliki Kassianidou is expected to present the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency at the Council of Ministers for Culture and Sport. In a doorstep statement, she told reporters that Cyprus will place culture at the forefront and intends to advance discussions on cultural-heritage rights and protection, as well as on safeguarding the media.

At the outset, Kassianidou thanked the Danish Presidency for the work it has carried out over the past six months, with the Deputy Minister presenting the three main issues on which the Cypriot Presidency will focus.

‘First, we will place culture at the heart of the discussions. We will promote and support the signing of the joint declaration on culture prepared by the Commissioner,’ Kassianidou stressed.

‘We hope that during our Presidency we will complete this task and begin negotiations on the new work program, Agora EU, because culture lies at the core of common European values,’ she added.

With regard to the second priority point, she noted that ‘Cyprus will promote discussions on cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage, especially on the issue of the illicit trafficking of cultural goods, because our cultural heritage is what unites us; it is the glue that holds all European countries together.’

‘We will promote discussions on the protection of the media and independent reporting, and we will do whatever is necessary to complete the work that has begun during the Danish Presidency,’ she concluded.

The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) elected 40 Member States to form its Council for the next two-year term, 2026-2027. The elections were completed on Friday during the proceedings of the Organization’s 34th Assembly, held at its headquarters in London. Cyprus was re-elected, ranking 7th, compared to 12th place in the previous election.

‘This result reflects the very good and systematic work carried out by the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, the Cyprus High Commission in London, and all those who contributed to Cyprus’s pre-election campaign,’ a diplomatic source told CNA.

Meanwhile, a leading figure in international shipping told CNA that ‘the re-election of Cyprus to the Council of the International Maritime Organization, and indeed in a better position than in the previous election, is considered a success in shipping circles and once again confirms Cyprus’s steady and long-standing contribution to the work and mission of the IMO.’

More specifically, the full results are as follows:

Category (A), concerning the provision of international shipping services and consisting of 10 members, elected: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, and United States of America.

Category (B), concerning international seaborne trade and also consisting of 10 members, elected: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and United Arab Emirates.

Category (C), concerning special interests in shipping and navigation and consisting of 20 members, elected: Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, and Turkey.

More detailed results in this category are as follows: Singapore 149, Saudi Arabia 142, Belgium 141, Turkey 139, Indonesia 138, Qatar 137, Cyprus 136, Philippines 136, Malta 133, Egypt 132, Morocco 130, Jamaica 129, Malaysia 129, Peru 127, Chile 126, Mexico 126, Bahamas 125, Finland 118, South Africa 117, Nigeria 116.

The new IMO Council will be constituted during its 136th session on 4 December, when the Chair and Vice-Chair for the new two-year term will be elected.

On December 11, the two leaders, President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhrman, will jointly visit the Committee on Missing Persons and hold a joint meeting at the UN Good Offices, under the facilitation of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, María Angela Holguín Cuéllar, according to an announcement by UN Spokesperson in Cyprus Aleem Siddique.

According to Siddique, on December 11, ‘the Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhrman, will jointly visit the Committee on Missing Persons at 15.00’.

‘They will then hold a joint meeting at the UN Good Offices, under the facilitation of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, María Angela Holguín Cuéllar at 16.00,’ he adds.

The two leaders will then proceed to an informal reception hosted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Khassim Diagne, the UN Spokesperson in Cyprus said.

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.

A High-Level Group Meeting on Education and Training is taking place in Nicosia on 1 – 2 December 2025, ahead of the assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union by the Republic of Cyprus during the first half of 2026.

According to a statement by the Secretariat of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, the meeting will be held at the new Nicosia Town Hall with participation of Member States representatives that take part in the High-Level Group on Education and Training, as well as representatives of the European Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU.

As noted, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Sport and Youth, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Giorgos Panteli, will extend greetings and outline the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency in the area of Education.

It is added that discussions will focus on key aspects of the European Education Area, including citizenship education, lifelong learning, mobility, and strengthening and supporting the teaching profession in an era of digital and technological change, while participants will also review the progress made by Member States in enhancing the development of digital skills through education and training.