Category: Cyprus News Agency

A yellow warning for severe thunderstorms is in place from 0300 until 1700 (local time) on Thursday.

According to the Department of Meteorology, isolated thunderstorms are expected to affect the island at intervals, initially in the morning hours the western, northern and southern coasts and progressively and mainly after noon the mountains, the internal and the eastern.

Hail is possible during a thunderstorm while winds will vary and increase. Rainfall intensity is expected to range between 35 and 55 kilometers per hour.

The President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, appealed on Thursday to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to exert its influence on Turkey to cooperate in good faith towards resolving the Cyprus issue, during the meeting of PACE’s Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs, held in Limassol.

In her address, Demetriou expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the members of the Committee for their consistent principled stance and PACE’s steadfast support for Cyprus and the ongoing efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions, but also on the basis of international law and European principles and values.

“Our fervent desire and steadfast goal is the reunification of our country, in conditions of lasting peace, security, and prosperity for all Cypriots: Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians, and Latins, and especially for our young people, who deserve a more hopeful future,” she said, noting that the intervention of the Committee members is always important and catalytic, especially in a Member State, in a country governed by the rule of law, which, 51 years after the illegal Turkish invasion, and in which basic human rights are violated and trampled on a daily basis.

The House President stressed that 51 years since the Turkish invasion and the continuing occupation of part of Cyprus, a member state of the European Union and the Council of Europe, is “too long”.

“The international community must show the same sensitivity and determination towards Cyprus that it rightly showed towards Ukraine, putting international law and respect for human rights first in all cases without exception, far from the logic of double standards, which is incompatible with lasting peace and justice,” she said, emphasizing that flagrant violations of fundamental rights, such as the right to property of Greek Cypriots who were forcibly displaced and the right of the families of missing persons to the truth, are not subject to a statute of limitations as long as they continue.

After appealing to MPs and PACE to exert influence on Turkey to cooperate in good faith to resolve the problem and its individual aspects, Demetriou referred to the case of five Greek Cypriot displaced persons who were illegally detained by the occupying regime for four months on unfounded charges.

As she said, although they have been acquitted by a “military court” and despite their acquittal on the alleged charges, it has not yet been possible for them to return to the free areas. “I call on you from this podium to exert all your influence so that they can return immediately to the free areas,” she stressed.

In her address, Demetriou also referred to the role of the Committee in matters of ethics, conflict of interest, transparency, and the practical functioning of parliamentary work, which, she said, cover a wide range of issues related to the functioning of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law and, more generally, the credibility of institutions and citizens’ trust in them.

Equally important, she said at another point, is the role of the various control mechanisms of the Council of Europe and the recommendations of its mandated bodies, such as GRECO, MONEYVAL, or other independent authorities of the Organization, whose actions have contributed significantly to strengthening institutional maturity and to accumulating and utilizing the necessary expertise in Cyprus.

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.

The European Commission will keep doing everything in its power to help the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project advance, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen told CNA on Wednesday.

The Commissioner held yesterday a meeting in Brussels with the Energy Ministers of Greece and Cyprus to discuss key energy initiatives, including GSI.

In statements to CNA, Commissioner Jørgensen spoke afterwards of a “constructive meeting” following a call he had with the Ministers in October. “We discussed key energy initiatives such as the Great Sea Interconnector, a project that the EU strongly supports, including through CEF funding” he said.

“The Energy Highways initiative, announced by President Von der Leyen in her State of the Union address, includes the electricity interconnection of Cyprus with continental Europe to end electricity isolation. The European Commission will keep doing everything in its power to help this project advance. I look forward to keep working with Greece and Cyprus to make this happen on the ground. Better and improved interconnectivity is essential in the EU – to bring down energy prices for our citizens and industry, and to secure our independence” he added.

Following the meeting, the Commissioner posted on X (formerly Twitter) a message, saying that he had a “constructive meeting with Greek and Cypriot Energy Ministers on key energy topics and projects incl. Great Sea Interconnector-which the EU strongly supports. Better and improved interconnectivity is essential to bring down energy prices and for our independence. Energy Highways coming soon!”

The Acting Secretary General of the House of Representatives, Panicos Pourgourides, met with the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis, on the sidelines of PACE’s Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs meeting, hosted by the House of Representatives on 13 and 14 November in Limassol.

According to a House statement, during the meeting, Pourgourides warmly congratulated Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis on her re-election as Secretary General of the Assembly, and extended his sincere thanks for the Assembly’s long-standing support and its consistent principled stance towards the Republic of Cyprus, praising Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis’s contribution to the promotion of democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.

It is added that for her part, Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis thanked the House of Representatives for hosting the meeting of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs in Limassol, stressing that cooperation between PACE and national parliaments is essential, mutually beneficial, and strengthens inter-parliamentary dialogue in Europe.

She also expressed her deep appreciation for the members of the Cypriot delegation to PACE who, as she noted, have on several occasions assumed important positions within the Assembly and participate actively and constructively in its work, guided by the Organisation’s principles and values.

The United Kingdom continues to uphold its firm commitment and support for the efforts of the United Nations toward a ‘just and sustainable solution’ to the Cyprus issue. This is reaffirmed in a reply letter from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to the Council of British Cypriots, addressed to the Council’s communications officer, Doros Partasides.

The letter also notes that London, as a Guarantor Power and a friend to all sides, ‘participated in the two informal 5+1 meetings convened by the UN Secretary-General’ and ‘looks forward to taking part soon in further UN-led discussions on the next steps.’

‘We will continue to engage actively with all parties in support of the UN’s efforts,’ the letter states, adding that the United Kingdom thanks supporters of the peace process for maintaining an ‘open and constructive dialogue’ with FCDO officials.

It is worth noting that this reaffirmation of the longstanding position of the British government on the Cyprus issue comes at a time when the UN is attempting to reinvigorate the talks process amid stagnation and differing approaches among the parties involved.

The Council of British Cypriots is an organisation that promotes Cypriot interests in London’s decision-making centres and works to deepen bilateral relations. It has, from time to time, addressed letters to senior British government officials, such as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, as well as to other international actors involved in efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The letters are signed by Doros Partasides, Marie Nickolsby, Antonis Savvides, Spyros Neophytou, Louis Loizou, Dr Serafim Kyriakides, Elisa Ellinas, Antonis Demetriou, Stella Protopapa, John Stergidis, Pantelis Demosthenous, Spyros Papacharalambous, Nikos Savvides, Elias Dinenis, Giorgos Chatzipavlis, Andreas Tambouridis.

Enhancing cooperation between Cyprus and France in the sectors of marine and maritime security, space technologies, cybersecurity, disaster and risk management was the main focus of the Cyprus-France Innovation and Cooperation Forum, organised on Thursday in Nicosia by the French Embassy in Cyprus and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In his welcome address, CCCI Secretary General, Philokypros Roussounides, said that Cyprus and France share a natural synergy when it comes to innovation, with the sectors of focus at today’s Forum being maritime technologies, cybersecurity, spatial innovation and earth observation, as well as disaster and risk management.

‘These are not simply topics of interest, they are key drivers of Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, and long-term prosperity. Our partnership is not theoretical, it is already happening, it is real, it is visible, it is impactful’, he added, citing as an example the EONIOS programme, ‘a flagship French-Cypriot cooperation project that has delivered the world’s first resident autonomous underwater vehicle swarm system’.

He also referred to the growing collaboration between Cypriot and French companies in the defence and security innovation sector, with partnerships formed over the past few years leading to joint participation in European development programmes, shared technology development, and coordinated R and D efforts, as well as to the long-standing cooperation between Cyprus and major French research institutions in climate and atmospheric science.

‘These examples are proof that when Cyprus and France work together, we create technologies, solutions that matter regionally, European-wide, and globally. I also want to acknowledge the Cyprus-French Business Association, whose commitment and dedication have played a crucial role in building and maintaining these bridges between our business communities’, he noted.

The Ambassador of France to Cyprus, Clélia Chevrier Kolacko, said in her remarks that while the sea represents freedom of navigation and openness to the world, it also offers a wide range of potential targets, including vessels, offshore platforms, and submarine cables.

‘This is why it has become critical for Cyprus, a sea-faring nation and major shipping hub in the eastern Mediterranean, to develop and consolidate its maritime domain awareness, like France did with the MICA Centre. This includes the protection of offshore and underwater critical infrastructures, the fight against illegal migration by sea, and enhanced maritime surveillance and information sharing’, she added.

In the sector of space technologies, the stakes are immense, technological, military, environmental, and legal, she continued, adding that we need to consolidate European space-based intelligence and expertise, building on existing European tools, such as Copernicus and Galileo.

‘The development of Earth observation tools, remote sensing technologies, satellite imagery, telecommunications satellites, are critical to assert Europe’s spatial sovereignty and safeguard our strategic interests and security’, she noted in that regard.

On cybersecurity, the French Ambassador said that in recent years, cybersecurity threats have increased significantly in terms of level, complexity, and scale.

‘While the European Union has taken on this matter, the threat seems to always be one step ahead of the solution. Today, I believe that by bringing French and Cypriot expertise together, we can find ways to better shield us from this menace and ensure European sovereignty’, she underlined.

Year after year, Cyprus and France both face a recurring and increasing problem with natural disasters, especially forest fires, that despite their recurrence, they remain difficult to manage and still have devastating consequences, as we sadly witnessed last summer in both countries, she continued.

‘This is why we need smart, innovative, and sustainable solutions for better preparedness by modernising early warning and response systems, strengthening our aerial firefighting capabilities, and set up a smart forest management’, she added on the subject.

‘Through the drivers of innovation, we hope to see new forms of interaction and cooperation emerge between our two nations, bringing France and Cyprus closer together, together as a French-Cypriot team. Together we can achieve great things, as was demonstrated by the EONIOS Consortium’, continued Chevrier Kolacko.

‘In these troubled times, with conflict and war at Europe’s doorsteps, chosen interdependence, reliability, loyalty, and respect of the sovereignty of the other are the path to follow. This message of cooperation for joint security and solidarity against foreign threats resonates particularly today, as this day marks the 10th anniversary of France’s worst terrorist attacks in Paris that left 132 dead and hundreds wounded’, she said in closing.

‘The aim is clear: security and stability can only be achieved by bringing our minds and ideas together, and I hope that today’s discussions and meetings will foster new partnerships and bring us closer to our goal’, she concluded.

For his part, Dr Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus, said that Cyprus’s research and innovation ecosystem has transformed dramatically over the past few years, becoming home to world-class universities and seven centres of excellence, climbing to 25th in the Global Innovation Index and entering in the top 50 startup ecosystems worldwide.

A key strategic focus is building world-class partnerships with nations and organisations that can help drive Cyprus’s economic and scientific future, he continued, adding that the country is building a pipeline that moves from basic research to applied research, to innovation, and ultimately to commercialisation.

‘This is where France becomes an indispensable partner. France is both a scientific and an innovative powerhouse. Its contributions to aerospace, defence, cyber security, maritime engineering, energy, space, are globally renowned. The companies and the research institutions present here today bring world-class expertise that can actually complement what Cyprus is developing. Let me also add that it is not just world-class expertise, it is also commercialisation pathways’, he stressed in that regard.

He further explained that in maritime technologies, France’s engineering tradition aligns perfectly with Cyprus’ maritime centres of excellence, in cyber security, French leadership complements Cyprus’s rapidly expanding cyber sector, in space and innovation, France’s heritage connects naturally with Cyprus-based research ambitions, while in disaster and risk management, solutions offered by French innovators align closely to Cyprus’s national priorities in climate resilience and emergency response. ‘When you place our ecosystem side by side, the complementarity is striking’, he commented.

‘Between our two governments, we can do more to support the growth of the ecosystem. Together, Cyprus and France can turn ideas into impact, research into prosperity, collaboration into legacy that strengthens our region and our continent beyond’, he concluded.

Invest Cyprus CEO, Marios Tannousis, focused in his presentation about the organisation’s work on foreign direct investment in space and defence, ‘one of the most important sectors that we have added on our mandate with the support of the industry clusters, the Ministry of Defence and from the call of our president, Nikos Christodoulides. It is a very important sector growing globally’.

He referred in this context to Cyprus’s accession to the Artemis Accords with the United States and NASA, adding that in the last few days Cyprus hosted the International Space Research Symposium, with France contributing a lot in these discussions and agreements with space.

He also said that military spending has almost doubled since the early 1990s, while global military spending surged to $2.7 trillion last year, he continued, adding that the space economy is expected to reach the $1 trillion mark as soon as 2032.

‘Defence and security are important for investments because they provide a stable environment for economic growth, protect critical infrastructure, foster technological innovation. Investing in this sector can also boost national and regional competitiveness and may offer opportunities for sustainable investing’, continued Tannousis.

‘We are basically committed to contribute and willing to work, especially with French companies, to achieve our President’s vision to transform Cyprus from a consumer of defence products into a producer that actively contributes to shaping the European defence landscape through innovation, development of cutting-edge technologies, and the production of high-quality defence systems’, he stressed.

‘Cyprus is a land of peace. We do not want war, but peace requires strong economy and military to be secured in the long term’, he concluded.

Finally, Dr Panagiotis Hadjipavlis, Director of General Procurements and Defence Capabilities Development at the Ministry of Defence, said that through joint military exercises, operational cooperation, and the participation in European initiatives, Cyprus and France have demonstrated a clear and practical commitment to strengthening Europe’s collective capability and technological autonomy.

‘As a European Union member state, we recognise that our strength lies in partnerships, innovation, and collaboration. We see cooperation with France, a nation with profound expertise, industrial capacity, and global leadership in the defence and technology sectors as a cornerstone of our own national strategy’, he continued.

‘Cyprus is strongly and genuinely committed to deepening its bilateral cooperation with France in the fields of research, innovation, capability development, and, of course, defence and security. We believe that by working together, pooling resources, and aligning our initiatives, we can multiply and expedite the effectiveness of our outcomes for the sake of our common interests’, he stressed.

He added that such cooperation can take several forms, from joint research projects connecting universities, research centres, and startups, to industrial partnerships allowing Cypriot and French companies to innovate together, as well as joint participation in EU programmes through frameworks such as the European Defence Fund, the Dual Innovation Hub, or the SAFE Regulation, advancing projects that contribute directly to Europe’s technological sovereignty.

‘France has been at the forefront of this transformation, advocating strong and technologically sovereign Europe. Cyprus fully shares this vision and stands ready to contribute as an active, constructive, and reliable partner to these collective European efforts. we are investing in strengthening our national innovation ecosystem, encouraging partnerships between universities, research centres, and industry, both local and international’, said Dr Hadjipavlis.

‘Our objective is clear, to make Cyprus a reliable partner and a valuable contributor to European technological and defence initiatives. Working hand-in-hand with France, with its vast experience, its industrial base, and its strategic vision, we can achieve concrete progress in areas such as maritime surveillance, robotics, space technologies, cybersecurity, energy resilience, and crisis management. The Mediterranean region, where our two countries are national partners, presents unique challenges, but also immense opportunities. Together, we can transform these challenges into drivers of innovation, contributing not only to our security and prosperity, but also to the broader peace, stability, and resilience of the region’, he concluded.

“It is our strategic priority, and it is important for this project to see the light of day as soon as possible,” said Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, spokesperson for the European Commission on Thursday.

When asked about Wednesday’s meeting between Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen and the energy ministers of Greece and Cyprus, the Commission’s spokesperson for energy issues said that energy initiatives such as the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) were discussed.

“It is a project we strongly support, a project of common interest that receives funding through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF),” the spokesperson said, noting that the project connects Cyprus with continental Europe to end the island’s energy isolation and help reduce energy prices for citizens.

“We will continue to do everything within our power and jurisdiction to help advance the GSI project, and to achieve this, the Commissioner looks forward to continuing cooperation with Greece and Cyprus,” Itkonen added.

When questioned about the project’s timeline given the delays, the Commission spokesperson declined to provide details, stressing that implementation lies with the project promoters and that it would not be appropriate to announce timelines from the European Commission’s press room.

“Regarding the GSI, I have nothing to share regarding the timeline for the next meetings or specific steps. Yesterday’s meeting followed the teleconference held in October, so this is steady, continuous contact and stock-taking between the Commissioner and the ministers of Greece and Cyprus,” she added.

“We reaffirm that this is a project of the highest importance for the European Commission, as well as for the citizens of Cyprus and Greece. It is our strategic priority, and it is important for this project to see the light of day as soon as possible,” the spokesperson emphasized. Regarding the timing of other energy projects, the spokesperson indicated that announcements related to interconnectivity would be made before Christmas, though not concerning the GSI project.

“It is again important to recall that we act within our competencies and capabilities-what we can do as the European Commission. What we can do is at the political and technical levels. We can reach out, we can have these discussions, we can see what we can do to help. But ultimately, the on-the-ground implementation of the project is the responsibility of the project promoters,” the spokesperson stressed.

In response to a question about whether the Commission intends to engage with the Turkish side to explain the importance of the GSI project for the EU, Itkonen stated that there is currently no information regarding possible contacts between Commissioner Jørgensen and his Turkish counterparts, though she did not rule out such contacts. The Commission has publicly clarified its position on the significance of this project. “Obviously, I do not rule out contacts, but it is not something I can confirm at this time,” the spokesperson added.

The House of Representatives once again strongly condemned the illegal declaration of the pseudo-state in Turkish occupied Northern Cyprus.

In her address before the plenary, the President of the House, Annita Demetriou, called on Turkey to respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, the only recognized and sovereign state across the entire territory of the island.

She noted that November 15 marks 42 years since the illegal and unilateral declaration of the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus as the so-called ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,’ in violation of the principles of international law and order, aiming to create faits accomplis, legitimize the occupation, and impose the permanent division of the country.

‘We reaffirm our commitment to achieving a just, viable, and functional solution based on the United Nations Security Council resolutions, the principles of international law, and the European acquis – for a free, united, safe, and prosperous homeland for all its citizens,’ she concluded.

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.

An agreement in principle over the Cost-of-living allowance (COLA) was signed Thursday at the Presidential Palace by the social partners and the Ministers of Labor and Social Insurance and Finance.

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said that this is a permanent agreement on an issue that has been pending for 15 years, and added that COLA is being extended to 55,000 low-wage earners, through its interconnection with the minimum salary.

Today, he stressed, an important effort is completed and a permanent agreement on the COLA is being achieved through responsible and constructive dialogue.

He said that the Government received the COLA at 50%, amidst conditions of insecurity and risk of disruption of labor peace, but today the full restoration of COLA at 100% is being achieved, within 18 months, in a balanced and sustainable manner.

Based on the new framework, more than 55,000 beneficiaries are being included, essentially expanding the institution to the benefit of broader groups of employees.

President Christodoulides noted that the positive course of the economy, reflected in continuous growth, the reduction of public debt and the achievement of full employment conditions, create the possibilities for the implementation of policies that improve the daily lives of citizens.

‘The responsible fiscal policy and the confidence that has been regained both domestically and internationally, with the successive upgrades by the Rating Agencies, allow the Government to proceed with determination in supporting workers, households and businesses, without undermining the stability of the economy,’ he noted.

The President said that the agreement gradually increases COLA payment rate to 100%, links COLA to the minimum wage, which extends to almost 55,000 low-wage earners, with incentives and policies for expansion to more employees.

The agreement, he pointed out, was not an easy task, noting that convergences and compromises between different aspirations and approaches between the employers and the trade unions were needed, thus making today’s outcome even more important.

“It is a product of responsibility and mutual respect between the social partners and proves that through social dialogue, solutions can be achieved that serve the collective interest,’ he stressed and thanked the Ministers of Labor and Social Security and Finance, as well as the social partners.

Concluding, he said that this effort was part of the government’s reform policy and effort for a fairer distribution of national income, for the further strengthening of the middle class and low-income earners, with the aim of achieving social cohesion.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 13/11/2025 UNTIL 1800 14/11/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1014hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure and an unstable air mass are affecting the area. Isolated showers or thunderstorm are expected. Risk of hail in a thunderstorm. IN STORMS WIND MAY BE VARIABLE INCREASING TO 5-6 BEAUFORT WITH STRONGER GUSTS.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL