Category: Cyprus News Agency

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the UN, Ambassador Maria Michail, reaffirmed Nicosia’s ‘strong and steadfast support of the International Criminal Court,’ in her address before the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, on Tuesday, describing it as ‘an independent and impartial judicial institution of the highest quality.’

Reaffirming Cyprus’ unwavering support for the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the Court, Michail voiced concern over ‘external threats, coercive measures, and other actions that could undermine its capacity to fulfill its mandate.’ She stressed that it is ‘crucial that the Court and its staff are able to carry out their essential duties without external influence or undue pressure,’ and expressed ‘deep regret over any attempts to undermine the Court’s independence, integrity and impartiality’.

Expressing gratitude to ICC President Tomoko Akane for presenting the report, she aligned Cyprus with the cross-regional statement delivered by Mexico and the forthcoming one by the European Union, while offering remarks in her national capacity.

Michail underlined that Cyprus ‘continues to advocate for the universal ratification and full implementation of the Rome Statute’ and called upon all Member States ‘to become party to the Statute.’ She welcomed ‘the Statute’s entry into force this year for its 125th State Party, following Ukraine’s recent ratification,’ emphasizing that this expansion reflects growing recognition of the Court’s indispensable role in ‘combating impunity, ensuring accountability and preventing recurrence of the most serious crimes of international concern’.

Referring to the ICC’s jurisdiction over genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression, she reminded the Assembly that these ‘represent grave violations of international law, notably the UN Charter, Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.’ The Court, she said, ‘is expected to provide justice for these heinous crimes, in accordance with the principle of complementarity’.

On the Kampala Amendments concerning the crime of aggression, Ambassador Michail recalled that ‘as a victim of foreign aggression, Cyprus was among the first to ratify the amendments,’ and welcomed ‘their acceptance or ratification by four new States.’ She urged all States Parties ‘to do the same in order to enhance the fight against impunity for the crime of aggression’.

She highlighted Cyprus’s participation in the July 2025 Special Session of the Assembly of States Parties, which aimed to strengthen the ICC’s jurisdiction over aggression. ‘While the Kampala regime was a landmark achievement,’ she noted, ‘it left a notable accountability gap, particularly in situations where acts of aggression are committed by nationals of non-States Parties or on the territory of non-States Parties.’ This, she warned, ‘allows impunity to persist and undermines the Court’s credibility’.

For Cyprus, she stressed, ‘this issue is far from theoretical.’ The country ‘continues to live with the devastating consequences of foreign aggression,’ and thus ‘justice has long remained out of reach.’ Ambassador Michail emphasized that ‘accountability must not depend on the identity of the aggressor or the place where the aggression was committed, but rather on the objective gravity of the act and the fundamental need to uphold the rule of international law’.

Looking ahead, she expressed Cyprus’ readiness for ‘the intersessional meeting in 2027’ and ‘the Special Session in 2029 to consider the proposed amendment to Article 15 bis,’ aiming to harmonize jurisdiction ‘over all four crimes of the Rome Statute’.

Finally, Ambassador Michail reaffirmed Cyprus’s ‘strong support for the Trust Fund for Victims,’ which she described as ‘an indispensable pillar of the ICC system.’ Its work, she said, ‘in providing reparations, assistance, physical and psychological rehabilitation for the victims of the most heinous crimes has been truly remarkable.’

Recalling her country’s own experience, she added that ‘as a country that endured war crimes itself, Cyprus knows and understands the importance of an organized and experienced mechanism offering the necessary support for the victims to carry on their lives.’ She concluded by assuring that ‘our continuous financial support to the Trust Fund remains assured,’ while urging all States Parties ‘to continue or even enhance their efforts in supporting it’.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 12/11/2025 UNTIL 0600 13/11/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1017hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. Locally increased cloud coverage is expected with local showers and possible isolated thunderstorms.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3, gradually Southwest to West 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Morning Variable 3, gradually South to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to West 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning West to Northwest 3, later South to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning South to Southwest 3, gradually 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to West 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Southeast to Southwest 3 Smooth to Slight

The latest technological developments in the field of defence, as well as the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of modern defence operations, were highlighted at a conference entitled “Cyprus National Guard Digital Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” which took place on November 11 and 12 in Nicosia, under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence.

In his presentation at the beginning of the second day of the conference’s proceedings on Wednesday, Dr. Panayiotis Hadjipavlis, Director of General Procurements and Defence Capabilities Development of the Ministry of Defence, spoke of Cyprus’ participation in the SAFE mechanism of the European Union ‘a topic both timely and strategic, touching upon Europe’s evolving defence landscape and transformation of our industrial base and Cyprus’ role as a reliable contributor to Europe’s collective security.’

According to Dr. Hadjipavlis, the SAFE regulation, adopted in 2024, establishes a structured framework to strengthen Europe’s defence industrial capacity and enhance coordination in armaments procurement, with $150 billion loans invested in member states, mainly to upgrade operational capabilities and address the shortcomings of the European Union in joint procurement.

‘SAFE is designed to make the EU more capable, more coordinated, and more competitive in the defence sector. It complements the European Defence Fund, which focusses on research and development by supporting the mass production and acquisition phase of defence programmes. In this sense, SAFE represents the missing link between innovation and operational capability’, he noted.

Regarding Cyprus’ role and national priorities within this framework, he said that as a frontline EU member state, Cyprus places high importance on aligning its defence planning with European initiatives, while in parallel, it seeks to fill some important capability gaps and operational needs. ‘The aim of the Ministry of Defence is to utilise the available loan funding to meet the priorities of the national gap over a five-year period that is until the end of 2030’, he noted in that regard.

He added that at the same time, and in addition to the resources and projects that will emerge from SAFE, the Ministry of Defence has already developed a multi-year armaments plan which remains dynamic to accommodate the integration of new developments and technologies, as this field is also highly dynamic.

‘Cyprus is pursuing the modernisation of its defence systems through participation in joint procurement schemes. Our focus areas include replenishing of a variety of ammunition and missile stocks, drone and anti-drone systems, systems for precision guiding targeting, command and control platforms, secure communications, armoured vehicles of various types, and vehicles for general use, and of course, electronic warfare systems”, he said.

‘In parallel, another goal is to embed Cypriot enterprises, particularly SMEs, into European defence supply chains. The Ministry of Defence, through the National Armaments Directory, is mapping local industrial capacities and connecting them to European consortia eligible under SAFE. Our goal is to engage Cypriot companies in our armaments procurement plan whenever possible by stressing to our providers the need to establish partnerships with the local ecosystem. We see potential in electronics, sensors, composites and software integration, drone and anti-drone systems of all kinds, and vehicle modernizations where Cypriot companies have demonstrated flexibility and innovation’, he further explained.

Hadjipavlis also said that apart from SAFE, the Cyprus Ministry of Defence has already established a strategic plan for the development of the local defence industrial ecosystem, investing in research partnerships with universities and technology centres, leveraging both European and national mechanisms, with high-tech SMEs, research centres and university institutions actively developing dual-use technologies relevant to defence applications.

‘The SAFE programme offers Cyprus a unique opportunity to enforce the operational capability of the National Guard and strengthen its defence industrial and technological base. It provides access to European funding and procurement frameworks, enabling Cyprus companies to participate in projects that would otherwise be beyond their national market size. This access enhances competitiveness, visibility and credibility across the EU,’ he stressed.

‘The Ministry of Defence, through its armaments directory, remains fully committed to achieving participation in SAFE projects, to enhancing the operational capabilities of the national guard, to supporting our national industry and to bolstering cooperation with European partners. We firmly believe that the future of European defence will be built through collaboration, interoperability and shared investment.

No single member state can meet the challenges of this era alone. But together, through initiatives such as SAFE, we can ensure that Europe remains secure, competitive and technologically sovereign. Cyprus stands ready to do its part with commitment, competence and confidence’, concluded the Ministry of Defence official.

For his part, the Business Development and Market Director at the Israeli defense technology company Rafael, Yossi Pinto, spoke about upgrading armoured platforms with integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System capabilities.

As he explained, when a decision has to be made between buying a new platform or upgrading a legacy one, operational and commercial challenges are involved.

Rafael has developed mobile and agile counter-UAS systems that provide force protection against aerial threats such as suicide UAVs, surveillance drones, and more.

“In mere seconds, Rafael’s force protection systems carry out an initial phase of enemy threat detection and classification. The drone dome command and control counter-UAS system generates a comprehensive, accurate sky image displaying every current threat. Soft kill defence capability is then activated to neutralise the surveillance drone, and immediately after, a spike missile is launched to eliminate the drone’s launching point and prevent any further hostile attacks,” he said on the system’s operation.

He added that on the other side of the manoeuvring force, the world’s most advanced mobile laser-based interception system is activated, neutralising UAVs flying at higher altitudes and greater distances from the ground forces. “Simultaneously, an interceptor drone is launched to eliminate additional small, agile threats. The ground manoeuvring forces can now safely move forward and successfully carry out their mission”, he noted.

CEO of IANUS Technologies, Dr Georgios Kioumourtzis, said that the definition of national security is now evolving, as it no longer sits exclusively within the Ministry of Defence or the police headquarters, but requires the mobilisation of municipal authorities, health services, energy grid operators, first responders, and even civilian volunteers, all acting under immense pressure in a dynamic and high-risk environment.

‘In this context, the concept of AI-driven command superiority becomes critical, it is about enabling defence forces, civil protection teams, and public safety authorities to anticipate, adapt, and act faster, with precision, confidence, and interoperability,’ he continued.

He added that command superiority is increasingly defined by data dominance, ‘by the ability to fuse intelligence, detect anomalies, coordinate assets, and disseminate instructions faster than your adversary, or faster than a crisis evolves’.

‘This is where artificial intelligence enhanced coordination becomes a game changer. Artificial intelligence, when applied responsibly, allows us to move from manual and fragmented decision cycles to real-time predictive and adaptive operations’, he further noted.

Referring to Maestro, IANUS’s flagship C2I platform for municipalities, civil protection agencies, and regional coordination authorities, Kioumourtzis said it is designed to unify operational data, geospatial workloads, and secure communications into a single system.

He added that Maestro will be currently deployed in Greece for pilot testing by the end of 2025, offering response capabilities in disaster management and evacuation coordination and enabling faster, more accurate, and more resilient decision-making, whether the mission is military or civil.

He further noted that Cyprus, with its geopolitical position and strong academic and industrial base, is perfectly placed to become a regional hub for dual-use digital innovation. ‘So we invite the Cyprus National Guard, the Cyprus Police, the Cyprus Civil Defence, local authorities and also international partners to join us in testing, deploying and co-developing this tool,’ he concluded.

For his part, European Programmes Director of Delian Alliance Industries, Nikolaos Drosos, said that the company, operating from Athens and London, can deploy electronic warfare capabilities on any platform, such as fixed towers, portable units, vehicles, and vessels, using a modular architecture.

Speaking about the company’s portfolio, Drosos said it breaks into two categories, sense and strike.

As explained, sense includes systems that detect, track, classify and geolocate threats autonomously, and are currently in production and operational use withing NATO, while strike includes systems that enable navigation in GPS-denied environments, electronic warfare and autonomous one-way effects.

‘Defence requires integrated systems that can transition from detection to effect without any human delay. We deliver on three. The threat is real. The capability exists. The question is whether you are ready to deploy,’ he concluded.

The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today`s stock exchange meeting as follows:

MEETING DATE: 12/11/2025

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTHERS = 1000

EURO (pound )

TRADED VALUE 573.680,09

INDEX

VALUE

%DIFF.

VALUE

FTSE/CySE 20

171,260

1,110

566.099,020

MAIN MARKET INDEX

233,290

2,030

533.880,420

INVESTMENT COMPANIES MARKET INDEX

3.173,750

0,600

30.596,800

CSE GENERAL INDEX

282,340

1,080

567.403,520

HOTELS INDEX

1.890,780

-1,040

1.220,000

ALTERNATIVE MARKET INDEX

1.855,830

0,420

39.799,670

The MSCA-DN project ‘Storytelling as Pharmakon in Premodernity and Beyond: Training the New Generation of Researchers in Health Humanities’ (StoryPharm) is excited to announce its upcoming Training in Intersectionality, Sexuality, and Gender.

The training, which will take place between 25 – 27 November 2025 at the University of Cyprus includes seminars, workshops, reading groups, and lectures from specialists in the fields of intersectionality, sexuality, and gender.

For more information and the programme, please visit the link https://www.ucy.ac.cy/storypharm/intersectionality-sexuality-and-gender/.

All events of the training are open to PhD candidates outside the project and other interested individuals. To receive relevant material and to register, please contact Andria Andreou (andreou.andria@ucy.ac.cy).

About StoryPharm:

StoryPharm was awarded pound 5,1 million in funding as part of the Horizon Europe (2021-2027) competitive programme Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Networks. The project’s consortium includes the University of Cyprus (coordinator), the University of Bamberg (Germany), the University of Lund (Sweden), the University of Salerno (Italy), and the University of Cardiff (UK). The project also involves non-academic partners such as pharmaceutical companies, museums, libraries, and a publishing house.

The project offers 19 doctoral fellowships that provide high-quality multifaceted training, enabling fellows to develop research and transferable skills. Through this training, selected fellows are well prepared to pursue successful careers in research, as well as in the fields of health, education, and culture.

President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announced on Wednesday their decision to proceed with the immediate updating of the economic and technical parameters of the Cyprus-Greece electricity interconnection cable project (Great Sea Interconnector, GSI) so that it can potentially be strengthened with powerful investors.

The announcement was made during their joint statements following the end of the 3rd Intergovernmental Summit of the two countries.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, the Prime Minister of Greece and the President of the Republic of Cyprus reiterated their common position on an effort that would resume the Cyprus talks on the basis of the UN resolutions. President Christodoulides thanked Greece for remaining the most stable and selfless ally and partner of Cyprus and while PM Mitsotakis noted that it is now up to others to prove whether they really want a process of restarting the talks.

In his statements, President Christodoulides said that two years after the establishment of the Intergovernmental Conference, significant progress and developments have been achieved in the coordination and strategic orientation of the two governments in a wide range of policies. He underlined that the convergence of Athens and Nicosia has been and remains a fundamental pillar of stability in a special and often turbulent region.

‘We share common roots, common values, a common vision and a common duty: to defend security and stability both in our countries and in our neighborhood, as well as of course the well-being of our citizens,’ he noted, adding that the strategic alignment and synergy of Greece and Cyprus is uninterrupted and absolutely effective.

‘Cyprus and Greece are in full coordination in expanding our mutual and regional energy cooperation and interconnectivity, as demonstrated by the recent meeting of the 3+1 format at the level of Energy Ministers. I agree with PM Mitsotakis that our common goal is to take essential actions for the effective implementation of projects that will have tangible economic benefits as well as a geopolitical footprint, and it is precisely in this context that we agreed with the Prime Minister on the need to update the economic and technical parameters for projects of particular geostrategic importance, such as those related to connectivity,’ President Christodoulides stressed.

Moreover, he said opportunities provided at the European level will also be utilized, such as the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) tool, by investing in strengthening the defence industry and at the same time contributing to the security and strategic autonomy of the EU.

Referring to the Summit, the President of the Republic focused on four areas. Firstly, on the environment, saying that water scarcity is perhaps the greatest challenge. ‘This is precisely why we are working systematically and together for the sustainable management of water resources, with the use of reclaimed water and the transfer of know-how for large desalination plants,’ he stressed, adding that strengthening water resilience is also among the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Secondly, he referred to civil protection, stressing that preparations for the European Firefighting Hub, based in Cyprus, are progressing. Furthermore, he referred to the protection of minors in the digital space, with policies that limit digital addiction and enhance online safety.

Regarding foreign policy, President Christodoulides stressed that the two countries are aligning their actions and policies and underlined that these include coordination for the upcoming full integration of Cyprus into the Schengen area, as well as the implementation of the New Pact for the Mediterranean.

‘The focus of our joint effort, the highest national priority remains of course the end of the occupation and the reunification of Cyprus, on the basis of the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, international law and the European acquis. Cyprus and Greece are moving together towards achieving this historic, this national necessity”, he pointed out.

President Christodoulides thanked the Greek Prime Minister saying that Greece and the Greek people “remain the most stable and most selfless, ally and partner’.

In his statements, the Greek Prime Minister noted that the two countries decided to proceed with the updating of the economic and technical parameters of the interconnection project ‘so that it can be strengthened with the entry of new, powerful investors, which is to the benefit of all of us’.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis underlined that Athens and Nicosia remain committed to a peaceful cooperation based on international law and the law of the sea and added that in a time of uncertainty they are pillars of stability and reliability in the wider region. This, he added, was shown in practice with the “very important agreements of US companies” that were signed a few days ago and ‘which contribute to the energy security of the whole of Europe, from the Mediterranean to Moldova and Ukraine’.

The Greek Prime Minister also said that Greece follows Cyprus as regards drillings, noting that after 40 years, the first research drilling rig is preparing to start work within the next 18 months in the Ionian Sea.

‘All developments demonstrate the strategic importance of our countries for the entire European continent,’ the Greek Prime Minister underlined and referred to the ‘catalytic role of schemes such as the 3+1, which was activated again at the level of Energy Ministers.’

Referring to developments in the Middle East and the role of Greece and Cyprus, he stressed that “the 3rd Intergovernmental Conference confirmed the significant presence of our countries in developments in the Middle East, we were present at the Peace Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, we will be present in the future, ready to contribute as part of a force that will guarantee the implementation of the agreement, provided that it has an explicit mandate from the UN Security Council.”

Regarding the Cyprus issue, Mitsotakis reiterated that the position is clear saying that Athens supports the efforts to reunify the island as it is required by the UN resolutions. He also said that the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Cyprus have worked together to bring back the Cyprus issue to the UN Secretary General’s agenda after a period of inactivity.

“Now it is up to others to prove whether they really mean that they want a process of restarting the talks within the framework of very clear guidelines determined by the decisions of the UN Security Council and the overall framework of EU-Turkish relations as reflected in meetings of the European Council,” the Prime Minister of Greece 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 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 is expected later this year.

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.

The Cyprus Department of Meteorology has issued a Yellow Weather Warning for isolated heavy thunderstorms, in effect from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

According to the warning, thunderstorms are expected to affect mainly mountainous and some inland areas, with the possibility of hail during storms. Rainfall intensity may range between 35 and 55 millimeters per hour, potentially leading to localized flooding or hazardous driving conditions.

Authorities advise the public to remain alert and take extra precautions, particularly in areas such as mountains, forests, and open terrain, as outdoor activities could be disrupted.

The Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry, in collaboration with the Trade Center of the Republic of Cyprus in Warsaw, participated for the second consecutive year with an information stand at the international European SME Congress, which was held in Katowice, Poland, between October 27 and 28, 2025.

According to a Ministry statement, the European SME Congress, the largest event in Europe for small and medium-sized enterprises, was held for the 15th year, attracting a large number of businesses and a multitude of speakers and representatives of policy-making bodies. Participants included executives from large multinational companies, members of parliament, mayors, senior government officials, and leading representatives of institutional and economic organizations from both Poland and other countries.

As stated, the Cypriot stand attracted a significant number of visitors, who were extensively informed about the emerging growth sectors of the Cypriot economy and the competitive advantages that make Cyprus an attractive destination for investment and business cooperation, with particular interest being shown in the fields of information technology, technology, and professional services.

Cyprus’ participation in this conference and exhibition is part of the strategy to promote the country as an international business center, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry, the announcement concludes.

The European Commission announced on Wednesday the appointment of Giorgos Rossides as principal adviser for relations with internal and external stakeholders at the Internal Audit Service (IAS). The IAS provides independent advice, opinions, and recommendations on the quality and functioning of internal control systems within the Commission, EU agencies, and other autonomous bodies. The date of effect will be determined at a later stage.

As it is noted, with over 20 years of experience at the European Commission, Rossides has developed extensive expertise across a wide range of policy areas, including data protection, security, home affairs, crisis management, and health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he demonstrated sound judgment and decisive leadership, ensuring the successful delivery of major policy initiatives such as the EU Vaccines Strategy and the European Health Union.

According to the Commission’s press release, Rossides has shown strong leadership skills throughout his career, managing large teams in complex and high-pressure environments while successfully completing demanding initiatives, such as the reform of the EU pharmaceutical legislation and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. He also brings extensive experience in engaging with internal and external stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including key matters such as the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

A Cypriot national, Rossides currently serves as a Senior Expert at the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA). Previously, he served as Head of Cabinet to the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides. Before that, he was a Member of Cabinetfor the European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos, where he led work on the Security Union, counter-terrorism, and EU-US relations in the field of home affairs. He also served as Head of Sector for Communications at the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, coordinating with Commissioners’ Cabinets and the Spokesperson’s Service. Prior to joining the Commission, he gained valuable experience working at the United Nations.

Cyprus and Greece are demonstrating in practice that, through enhanced cooperation in all sectors, we achieve much more together, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, has stressed.

In a post on ‘X’, on Wednesday, the President said he was proud as exactly two years ago, in November 2023, the two countries inaugurated the Intergovernmental Summits of Greece – Cyprus.

“We institutionalized, following our joint decision of high symbolism and particular essential importance, a necessary and extremely beneficial practice for more effective, more multi-thematic and substantive cooperation”.

Cyprus and Greece, he added, “are demonstrating in practice that, through enhanced cooperation in all sectors, we achieve much more together”.

President Christodoulides also noted that “our cooperation is not limited to statements, it is reflected in specific policies, projects, actions and results. And we will continue with the same determination.”