Category: Cyprus News Agency

The picture of public finances is very satisfactory, Fiscal Council Chairman, Michalis Persianis told the Parliamentary Committee of Finance on Monday, at the start of the discussion on the 2026 state budget.

However, he warned of external risks and potential expenditure that may cause uncertainty and could derail public finances.

‘The Fiscal Council’s comment, within the context of validating the assumptions of the budget, was that it is moving in a very good direction. The fiscal indicators are extremely satisfactory. We congratulate the Ministry of Finance on a number of issues, the first of which is, of course, achieving the target of 60% for the level of public debt,’ Persianis told MPs.

He spoke, however, of a ‘lot of risks’ and many issues that remain uncertain, as well as many variables that could easily change. There are ‘external risks and potential expenditure that are both numerous and costly. These could alter the data over the course of the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework,’ he said, adding that inflexible expenditure continues to absorb a significant share of total spending, a fact that traps each government in a ‘procyclical policy,’ which ‘will be very dangerous if the economic climate reverses, something that will inevitably happen at some point,’ he said.

Persianis also noted that, based on the Republic’s obligations under the EU’s economic governance rules, ‘we are in expenditure excess,’ referring to ‘a very high risk in the calculations to correct this trajectory.’ He estimated, however, that as long as the debt remains below 60%, this excess will not easily lead to measures being taken against Cyprus. He also added that the plan to correct this excess is better than last year’s, though it still carries a high implementation risk.

He further stated that this year’s Medium-Term Fiscal Framework is moving along a ‘more realistic trajectory.’

The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, will travel to Egypt tomorrow to participate in the conference on the reconstruction of Gaza, with a specific plan to present, which includes the participation of the Cypriot companies in the reconstruction of Gaza.

In statements to media representatives after the memorial service for the heroes of the Saranti community, and asked about the telephone communications he had yesterday and will have today with state leaders, the President of the Republic said that yesterday he spoke with the President of Egypt, the Prime Minister of Israel, and the President of the European Council, and today at 11 a.m. he will speak with the President of the United Arab Emirates.

“I would like to publicly thank US President Donald Trump, as well as the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, for inviting our country to attend the ceremony for Gaza tomorrow. Taking into account the fact that only 22 countries have been invited, along with the institutions, I consider the invitation as recognition of the role of the Republic of Cyprus in the region, recognition of what we have done all this period, but also, at the same time, as an indication of what is expected of us by the international community,” he continued.

“And we have a specific plan that we will develop at the relevant ceremony to be held in Egypt, in relation to the reconstruction of Gaza. We want Cypriot companies to play a role in rebuilding the country, we want the Republic of Cyprus to play a role in security issues, all of which fall within the scope of what has been agreed, particularly in the first phase of the agreement – the full implementation of this first phase is crucial – in order to move on to the next stage. And within this framework, I will be in Egypt tomorrow together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Minister of European Affairs to represent the Republic of Cyprus at this very important ceremony,” he noted.

Asked whether the Republic of Cyprus is further consolidating its position by participating in the ceremony, President Christodoulides said that ‘we had (done so) with the Amalthea corridor, we had with the evacuation of people from countries in the region, and I think the invitation is a clear sign of recognition of this role of the Republic of Cyprus, but also of what we can do from from this point on.’

“We are not resting on our laurels – and I am glad that they are recognised by the international community – but at the same time we have a specific plan from here on, in relation to the reconstruction of Gaza with the participation of Cypriot companies and the provision of more humanitarian aid,’ he added.

‘You understand that the issue that Israel has always raised continues to exist. As I told you, I spoke yesterday with the Prime Minister of Israel about the fact that everything that enters Gaza must be checked beforehand, and the Republic of Cyprus is the country that, through the CYCLOPS Centre in Larnaca, is in a position to do this beforehand, and for many other aspects of security and the implementation of the agreement,’ he noted.

‘The Republic of Cyprus is a state that has excellent relations with all its neighbours and at the same time we are a member state of the EU, we are the EU’s representative in the region, we are the country that will assume the Presidency of the Council of the EU in less than 90 days and within this framework, as I always emphasize, with actions and not words, we highlight the added value of the Republic of Cyprus,” he pointed out on the matter.

Extension of US arms embargo lift

————-

In response to a journalist’s observation that the US has lifted its arms embargo against the Republic of Cyprus for one year, the President of the Republic said that ‘it was something we expected.’

“Our goal – because we always have the next goal – is for this lifting to become permanent and not have to make this decision every year. Our goal is to go to three or five years and then make it permanent, and it is in this context that in the immediate future, officers of the National Guard will travel to the US to see first-hand the equipment we have requested from the US within the framework of the two programmes that the US has decided to include the Republic of Cyprus in,” he added.

“This development is not unrelated to what we discussed earlier, with the recognition of our country’s role in the region. In particular, we have undertaken the planning with the US Government, and they will submit their recommendations to us regarding a major important political decision we have taken and have begun to implement in relation to the upgrade of the ‘Andreas Papandreou’ Air Base, which is being done in cooperation with the US Government,” he concluded.

The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discussed in a telephone conversation the prospects for strengthening cooperation between the two countries, particularly regarding the humanitarian dimension and the reconstruction of Gaza.

In a written statement, Government Spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said that the President of the Republic had a telephone conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates in the context of his contacts regarding the latest developments in the Middle East and the agreement on the first phase of the plan of the President of the United States for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages, particularly in light of the Summit to be convened in Egypt, where the two leaders will participate.

‘President Christodoulides welcomed the agreement, underlining the importance of its full implementation by all sides as a prerequisite for ending the humanitarian crisis and creating conditions of lasting peace and stability in the region,’ Letymbiotis noted.

He further added that ‘during the conversation, President Christodoulides praised the responsible and constructive role played by the United Arab Emirates in regional developments and in promoting peace and coexistence in the wider region.’

‘The two leaders exchanged views on the prospects for strengthening cooperation between the two countries, particularly with regard to the humanitarian dimension and the reconstruction of Gaza, with President Christodoulides reiterating the readiness of the Republic of Cyprus to contribute, in close coordination with the United Arab Emirates and the international community, to the collective efforts for peace, stability and reconstruction of the region,’ Letymbiotis concluded.

It is our and highest priority to work for the liberation and reunification of our homeland, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Saturday during the 45th anti-occupation event of the people of Morphou, adding that ‘for us, there can be no solution without the return of Morphou.’

‘Our efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem are not limited to slogans and wishful thinking. These are very specific initiatives that we began immediately after taking office,’ he noted, adding that ‘in these two and a half years, we have been making steps methodically, with dedication and with the deepest conviction that, despite the difficulties and problems, the solution to the Cyprus problem, yes, 51 years later, is an absolutely achievable goal’.

This optimism, he said, is based on certain developments, which are the decision of the UN Secretary-General to proceed with the appointment of his personal envoy, the two multilateral meetings on Cyprus convened within a year, the recent trilateral meeting in New York, and the UN Secretary-General’s commitment to convene a new multilateral meeting immediately after the election of a Turkish Cypriot leader.

‘All these are developments that were not a given in 2023. And I say all this to highlight the obstacles, difficulties, and problems we had to face,’ he stressed, while assuring that “we will make the most of even the slightest opportunity for negotiation and do everything humanly possible to resume negotiations, with the aim of finding a sustainable and workable solution within the agreed framework that respects the principles and values of the European Union.”

“It is important that, beyond the commitment and political will of the United Nations Secretary-General in this great effort, I am also encouraged by the fact that our efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue are supported by the European Union, at the level of states, leaders, and institutions,” he noted.

“The mobilization of the European Union, the utilization of the broader European framework, the reactivation of international interest, maintaining open channels with the United Nations, and our pursuit of direct communication with Turkey, which has yielded some results, are steps in the strategy we have followed since the first day I took office,” said the President of the Republic.

“Although we are not – I am not trying to sugarcoat the situation – where we want to be, and although I do not downplay or underestimate the difficulties and challenges, I believe that we are on a path that can lead us to the goal of resuming negotiations,’ he continued.

‘Whoever the leader of the Turkish Cypriots may be, I am ready to meet with him immediately, I am ready to negotiate, I am ready to do whatever it takes to make this great effort bear fruit, allowing us to remove once and for all the barbed wire that keeps our homeland divided,’ he stressed.

‘My only ambition is the withdrawal of the occupying army, the transformation of the Republic of Cyprus into a bi-zonal, bi-communal state, with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and an international personality that will guarantee the fundamental rights of all its legal residents,” he said, adding that ‘for us, there can be no solution without the return of Morphou.’

Referring to Cyprus’ upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026, President Christodoulides said that ‘this is a very important milestone for our country, a national mission, especially for a small EU member state, which I am confident we will carry out successfully.’

“The upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union by the Republic of Cyprus is also an important opportunity for us to highlight the active and substantial role of our country, which, 65 years after its independence, is present in the major challenges, with confidence and credibility, with a role and a voice. A responsible country that is part of the solution to the problems of the region and not part of the problems,” he stressed.

“The Presidency of the Council will also give us the opportunity to show thousands of visitors, government officials, heads of state and government, the barbed wire fence of the occupation. They will see up close the flag that defiles Pentadaktylos and reminds us of our obligation to work for the liberation and reunification of our homeland. To hand it over united, undivided, safe, and peaceful. This is our supreme duty and our highest priority,” he 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.

?he Cyprus Women’s National Team in Skeet won second place and the silver medal in the team standings at the Malakasa shooting range, Greece.

The Cyprus Shooting Sport Federation (CSSF) said in a press release that the National Team comprises athletes Constantia Nikolaou, Anastasia Eleftheriou and Panagiota Andreou. The Cypriot athletes completed their effort with 349 points.

The United States of America team won first place and the gold medal with 358 points, while Slovakia won third place and the bronze medal with 348 points.

The President and members of the Board of Directors of CSSF warmly congratulate the Cypriot athletes.

Hate speech should not become the norm, Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights, Maria Stylianou Lottidi, told CNA, on the occasion of the information and awareness campaign against hate speech and misinformation her office is vigorously pursuing, sending a clear message that misinformation and hate speech ‘must stop.’

The information and awareness campaign against hate speech and misinformation, implemented by the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights, has been ongoing since last June and will continue vigorously, according to Lottidi, with new interventions every two months.

Speaking to CNA, the Commissioner said that this is a multifaceted campaign aimed at highlighting the dangers posed by toxic practices in public discourse, especially on social media.

She noted that the campaign was reinforced during the pre-election period and is now continuing with new interventions.

According to Lottidi, during June and July, posters with messages against hate speech were placed in public spaces and on roadside billboards, noting that ‘although these have now been removed, the action continues with the distribution of printed material to government agencies and posts on social media.’

‘We wanted to send a clear message that misinformation and hate speech must stop,’ said the Commissioner, stressing that this is a pan-European phenomenon, which is also being addressed at the European level.

Responding to a question, Lottidi said that the campaign has already received positive feedback from abroad, as it is being implemented in collaboration with Equinet, the European Network of Equality Bodies, and has been recognised as good practice by Cyprus’ partners abroad.

She also said that despite the absence of official cooperation with ministries, there has been a positive response from institutions, with the Cyprus Police reproducing the campaign’s messages through its own social media channels.

‘The response from other services was similar, supporting the dissemination of the message,’ she added.

According to the Commissioner, the campaign will continue with new stages every two months, while her Office is monitoring the impact of the actions with a view to enhancing their effectiveness.

Department of Meteorology

Today’s weather and temperatures for Cyprus according to the Department of Meteorology

Date 12/10/2025

Station

TEMPERATURE (C) (FROM 20:00 PC of the previous one until the time of the show)

Highest

Lowest

Humidity at

1200 UTC

Nicosia (Athalassa)

26 (25.9)

15 (14.7)

45

Larnaka Airport

27 (27)

18 (17.7)

53

Limassol (New Port)

26 (25.7)

15 (14.9)

58

Limassol Garden

27,5

17,4

Pafos Airport

26 (25.9)

17 (17.4)

58

Frenaros

28 (27.5)

17 (17.4)

51

Prodromos

17 (17.1)

9 (8.8)

82

Polis Pafos

26 (25.8)

18 (17.7)

61

The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, exchanged views Saturday on the role that the European Union can play in supporting the peace process in Gaza.

In a written statement, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said that the President of the Republic had a telephone conversation yesterday with the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, as part of his contacts on developments in the Middle East and the agreement reached on the first phase of the US President’s plan for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.

“During the conversation, President Christodoulides stressed the importance of full implementation of the agreement by all sides, emphasizing that this is a crucial step towards peace, security, and stability in the region, but also towards achieving a two-state solution, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions,” he noted.

He added that “President Christodoulides and President Costa also exchanged views on the role that the European Union can play both in supporting the peace process and in managing the humanitarian dimension of the crisis, with an emphasis on the need for coordinated European action.”

“Within this framework, President Christodoulides pointed out that Cyprus, due to its geographical location and operational capabilities, can continue to serve as a bridge for strengthening the Union’s humanitarian role and promoting the European contribution to the reconstruction and stabilization of the region,” the Spokesperson concluded.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 12/10/2025 UNTIL 1800 13/10/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1011hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine in general.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night Northwest to Northeast 3 to 4 Slight, at times locally Slight to Moderate

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Slight

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Slight

South Coast

Night Northwest to Northeast 4, locally 4 to 5 Slight

Morning North to Northeast 3 to 4, locally 4 Slight

Afternoon Southwest to West 3 to 4, locally 4 Slight

East Coast

Night Northwest to Northeast 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Slight, at times locally Slight to Moderate

Morning Northwest to Northeast 4 Slight

Afternoon Northeast to Southeast 3 to 4 Slight

North Coast

Night Northeast to Southeast 3, offshore 4 Slight, offshore Slight to Moderate

Morning Variable 3 Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Slight

The United States formally extends for another year the suspension of its arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus, effective as from October 1, 2025, according to a final rule issued by the U.S. Department of State and published in the Federal Register. The amendment to section 126.1 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) specifies that ‘the policy of denial and the status of Cyprus as a proscribed destination is suspended from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.’

The decision underscores the ongoing deepening of U.S.-Cyprus defense cooperation and reflects Washington’s acknowledgment of Cyprus’ continued progress ‘in efforts to implement reforms on anti-money laundering regulations and financial regulatory oversight’ and ‘to deny Russian military vessels access to ports for refueling and servicing.’

The decision continues the policy first adopted in 2022, when the decades-long embargo was initially lifted pursuant to relevant legislation enacted by Congress. As stated in the rule, ‘the suspension of the policy of denial for exports, reexports, and transfers of defense articles and defense services to the Republic of Cyprus is extended for fiscal year 2026.’

The continued suspension is based on two pieces of legislation: Section 1250A(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA 2020) and Section 205(d) of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 (EMSEPA). Both provide that the U.S. policy of denial toward Cyprus shall remain in effect unless the President determines and certifies to Congress that ‘the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is continuing to cooperate with the United States Government in efforts to implement reforms on anti-money laundering regulations and financial regulatory oversight’ and that ‘the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has made and is continuing to take the steps necessary to deny Russian military vessels access to ports for refueling and servicing.’

On April 14, 2020, the US President delegated these certification authorities to the Secretary of State. Acting under that delegation, ‘on July 7, 2025, the Secretary of State certified to the appropriate congressional committees that the Republic of Cyprus meets the statutory requirements’ and approved the suspension of the policy of denial for fiscal year 2026.

The certification applies not only to exports and reexports but also to ‘retransfers and temporary imports destined for or originating in the Republic of Cyprus and brokering activities involving the Republic of Cyprus.’ License applications and other authorizations related to Cyprus will continue to be ‘reviewed on a case-by-case basis’ by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. Certain licensing exemptions ‘remain available for exports, reexports, retransfers, and temporary imports destined for or originating in the Republic of Cyprus. provided the conditions for use of those exemptions are met.’

The Department of State clarified that this regulatory action ‘involves a military or foreign affairs function of the United States’ under 5 U.S.C. 553(a), and therefore was published ‘with a specified effective date and without a request for public comment.’ It is also exempt from the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, as it ‘does not involve a mandate that will result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any year.’

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs determined that the rule ‘is not a major rule under the criteria of 5 U.S.C. 804,’ as it ‘will not increase costs or prices and should have no adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets.’

Similarly, the rule ‘will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government,’ and therefore does not require a federalism impact statement under Executive Order 13132.

In accordance with Executive Orders 12866 and 13563, which require agencies to assess the costs and benefits of regulatory actions, the Department stated that ‘because the scope of this rule implements a governmental policy expanding defense trade with a country, and does not impose additional regulatory requirements or obligations, the Department believes costs associated with this rule will be minimal.’

The rule is exempt from Executive Order 14192 because it ‘relates to a foreign affairs function of the United States.’ The Department further reviewed it ‘in light of Executive Order 12988 to eliminate ambiguity, minimize litigation, establish clear legal standards, and reduce burden.’

It also determined that the rule ‘will not have tribal implications, will not impose substantial direct compliance costs on Indian tribal governments, and will not preempt tribal law,’ and therefore Executive Order 13175 does not apply. Finally, the rule ‘does not impose or revise any information collections’ under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

In conclusion, the amended regulation incorporated into Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations formally states that ‘from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, the policy of denial and the status of Cyprus as a proscribed destination is suspended.’