Category: Cyprus News Agency

‘The future is very bright’ US Ambassador John Breslow has told CNA about Cyprus – US defence and military cooperation.

In his first interview since the assumption of his duties in September, given on board the USS Ro?sevelt, which visited the port of Limassol, and after US navy and marines marched for the first time at the annual Independence Day parade Ambassador Breslow replies to questions about defence and military cooperation between the two countries.

Asked to give some examples of what has been achieved since a 2024-2029 roadmap for bilateral defence cooperation was signed between Cyprus and the US the Ambassador said that ‘the roadmap has already started, and it’s going great.’

‘I would just tell you it’s for five years and it will be up about the end of President Trump’s term,’ he noted, adding that ‘one thing I want to do for sure is when that happens before President Trump leaves office, because he appointed me, is to call him and say, hey, this needs to be extended for, you know, another term.’

As to actions taken so far to do with the Roadmap Ambassador Breslow spoke of a planned increase of some facilities at the Paphos Airport and the US and Cyprus Cyclops program, ‘which is a wonderful program’, as he noted. He explained that that in the context of Cyclops, a US funded training centre in Cyprus, training sessions have taken place in areas such as cyber security and border security, adding that training is with the New Jersey National Guard mostly.

‘A lot of people have benefited from it and it’s a wonderful, wonderful program,’ he added.

As to a likely renewal of the Roadmap the US Ambassador said that ‘it’s kind of too early to talk about renewal now. We’re in the middle of it, but it should be renewed because it’s breaking new ground for Cyprus and the United States.’

Asked about the presence of the USS Roosevelt in Limassol port and whether it marks a new era of visits in Cyprus by US vessels and whether there are any plans for joint exercises to bolster naval security in the region Ambassador Breslow said that ‘I think there are plans for a lot of different military operations here in Cyprus, for defensive operations.’

‘And the future is really bright,’ he noted, adding however that ‘I can’t delineate on some of them.’

Invited to divulge something that he would be able to say he replied: ‘Well, I think that you’re going to see more destroyers and ships come to port just like this one and drop off. And there are some exercises that they’re doing together, like the Cyclops. And so, we just want to continue that.’

Replying to a question about US position on an eventual membership of Cyprus to NATO and whether the US would support an application of Cyprus to the Partnership for Peace program the US Ambassador said that ‘first of all, let me just tell you that I think the issue of Cyprus joining NATO first begins with the people of Cyprus. I mean, I think they have to decide that that’s something that they want to do.’

‘And I think the abilities that the United States and Cyprus are putting together is almost like NATO. I mean, the United States is going to protect Cyprus in the future. And I think that’s really important. And so, what happens in the future, I can’t predict. I don’t think anybody can predict, but I think the United States is going to be very, very supportive,’ the Ambassador said.

Asked what would the US government’s position be on a permanent lifting of the arms embargo to Cyprus which is now renewed every year he replied that ‘I can’t tell you what the government’s position is, but I can tell you there’s increased momentum from the Senate to increase the time of ITAR.’

‘They’ve talked about three years, five years,’ he added. ‘Senator (Cory) Booker, I know, is very interested in doing that. And some of his people were here recently and we talked about it,’ he said. So, Ambassador Breslow continued, ‘I think in the future maybe ITAR can be extended, but it’s not my decision. I obviously don’t make policy. It’s the Congress and the President that does that.’ ‘But I think there’s some momentum to get that done,’ he noted.

Invited to say how he finds Cyprus he explained that ‘I’ve only been here for a month. I’ve never been to Cyprus. I couldn’t come until I was confirmed by the Senate.’

‘I love Cyprus. My wife Sonia and I have really fallen in love with it. In fact, we’ve been taking tour trips around the island. And on our first trip, my wife said to me, ‘I love this place. When you’re done being Ambassador, I want to live here.’ So that ought to tell you how much we love it,’ he noted.

Asked to say what his thoughts are as he begins his term as Ambassador to Cyprus, he replied that ‘I am very excited about serving. In fact, even though I’ve only been here for one month, I can see at the end I’m going to be very sad to leave Cyprus. I really enjoy it. Such a challenge.’

‘And the people I have met are so nice and so wonderful. And one of the things that amazes me is it seems like everybody’s smiling and everybody loves what they’re doing,’ Ambassador Breslow concluded.

President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides on Saturday announced a monthly allowance for vulnerable patients with breast cancer for the duration of their treatment and for up to 12 months after its completion, as well as free transport for patients from remote areas of the Nicosia district to oncology centres.

Addressing the Pink Silhouettes March at the old GSP stadium in Nicosia, President Christodoulides said both measures had been proposed by Europa Donna Cyprus and that the state had decided to implement them.

‘The most important thing, as I promised at the first march I attended, is that each time we move forward with new policies to announce,’ he said.

The President said that tackling cancer involves not only diagnosis but also the quality and speed of treatment, stressing that these should not depend on where patients live or on their financial circumstances.

He also underlined the need for a holistic approach covering rehabilitation, psychological support and assistance for patients returning to work and everyday life.

Referring to the establishment of the National Cancer Institute and the appointment of its first Board of Directors, Christodoulides said they would contribute significantly to implementing such an approach, covering prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, research, rehabilitation and follow-up after treatment.

The President described Europa Donna Cyprus as a partner and ally of the state, expressing confidence that their cooperation would be further strengthened through the operation of the National Cancer Institute.

He also made particular reference to Stella Kyriakides, a founding member and President of Europa Donna Cyprus, former EU Health Commissioner, whom he described as a symbol of Europa Donna Cyprus, noting that she has been campaigning for many years for people affected by cancer.

‘My dear Stella, we honour you and thank you for everything you have offered and continue to offer,’ he said.

Europa Donna Cyprus is an independent, non-profit organisation and member of Europa Donna – The European Breast Cancer Coalition, which consists of 47 member countries. The Organisation aims to provide support services to patients with breast cancer and gynaecological cancer, to assert patients’ rights, as well as to raise public awareness, contributing to prevention, early diagnosis and optimal treatment.

Its primary objective is to raise awareness of breast and gynaecological cancers, and encourage people to advocate for improved education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and increased funding for research.

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)

29

16

43

Larnaka Airport

27

18

61

Limassol

27

16

56

Pafos Airport

27

18

63

Frenaros

28

17

60

Prodromos

18

9

60

Polis Pafos

27

16

61

Officials, who attended a series of memorial services on Sunday honouring the fallen of the Turkish invasion of 1974, missing persons and EOKA fighters, in various communities, conveyed the Government’s determination to continue efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Marinos Mousiouttas, in his eulogy at the annual memorial service for the fallen members of the 3rd Company of the 211 Infantry Battalion, held at the Church of Ayia Varvara in Kaimakli, said that the partition of the island ‘cannot and will never be accepted’.

Mousiouttas noted that ‘we are living through a period of intense diplomatic activity’. Referring to the visit of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to Cyprus last July, President Nikos Christodoulides’ successive meetings with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, contacts with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguín, and the meetings held in New York in recent days, he said, they ‘serve one objective’.

‘That objective is to create the conditions for a broader format meeting and for the resumption of substantive negotiations from where they left off in 2017, without losing anything that has already been agreed,’ he said. Noting that the framework for a settlement was a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined by UN resolutions, he said that what is missing, ‘as the President stressed in New York, is the political will, which must come from Ankara’.

Minister of Health Neophytos Charalambides, in his eulogy at the memorial service for the 17-year-old EOKA hero, held in Palodia, Limassol, said that we must ‘not become accustomed to the division of our homeland’ and to continue, ‘with unity and steadfast commitment to justice’, the efforts to end the occupation and achieve the liberation of Cyprus.

Giving Evangelou as an example, he stressed the importance of service to the country, protecting unity, and commitment to its freedom, ‘even when the road ahead remains difficult’.

The need to resume negotiations on the Cyprus problem from the point at which they were interrupted, on the agreed basis and making use of the negotiating acquis, was stressed by Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Christos Senekis, who also noted that the passage of time does not erase the consequences of the invasion, nor can it make partition a permanent situation.

Fifty-two years after the Turkish invasion, the occupation continues and Cyprus remains divided, the Minister said in his eulogy at the National Memorial Service for those who fell during the Turkish invasion and at the prayer service for the identification of missing persons from the Frenaros Municipal District.

President Christodoulides’ Government, he said, continues its efforts with consistency and determination to overcome the deadlock and resume substantive negotiations.

He noted that developments in recent months, the meetings held under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General, the European Union’s more active involvement and the Secretary-General’s ongoing efforts are creating, a framework within which every opportunity for progress must be fully explored.

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.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.

Cyprus’ Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment is moving forward with the creation of a Financial Instrument for the primary sector, aimed at facilitating access to finance and supporting sustainable investments, Minister Christos Senekis said.

At the same time, he announced that a broad consultation with the agricultural community would begin on 8 October on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027, noting that women living and working in rural areas would also be invited to participate in the process.

In his address at an event on the role of women in rural areas, held in Agros, Senekis said the aim was to create the conditions that would enable women’s knowledge and experience to be transformed into greater opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and development in rural areas.

He added that this was not only a matter of equality, but also a prerequisite for ensuring that rural areas remain vibrant and productive.

Referring to the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023-2027, with a total budget of pound 454 million, the Minister said that it supports investments, the modernisation of agricultural holdings and young people who choose to become active in the primary sector. He noted that more than 1,200 applications were submitted under the recent Major Investment Measure, with the amount requested approaching pound 200 million, while 267 applications were submitted under the First Installation of Young Farmers scheme.

According to Senekis, the response demonstrates that, despite the challenges, there is a willingness for renewal and to invest in the primary sector.

‘Our responsibility is to support this momentum and ensure that the opportunities being created are accessible to women who wish to take the next step,’ he said, whether by taking over an agricultural holding or by developing their own business activity in rural areas.

He also referred to the LEADER scheme, which he described as an important tool for mountainous and rural communities, as it supports initiatives originating from local communities themselves. Through the programme, he said, new businesses, jobs and small-scale projects are supported, while additional points are awarded for the participation of women in activities such as agritourism and home-based craft production, thereby strengthening female entrepreneurship in rural areas.

Referring to the contribution of women to rural life, the Minister said that, throughout history, women have participated in every aspect of agricultural activity, from cultivation and harvesting to livestock farming and processing, often without their contribution being recorded as economic activity or receiving the recognition it deserved.

Today, he noted, the presence of women in rural areas is taking on a new form and gaining greater visibility, as they are becoming active in the production and processing of products, organic farming, home-based craft production, agritourism and new forms of entrepreneurship.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 04/10/2026 UNTIL 0600 05/10/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

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

Low pressure and unstable airmass are affecting the area. At times local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected. IN STORMS THE WIND MAY BE VARIABLE STRENGTHENING TO 5-6 BEAUFORT WITH STRONGER GUSTS. Tonight the weather is improving significantly.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning East to Southeast 3 to 4, gradually Southeast to South Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, later Southwest to Northwest Smooth to Slight

Night Northwest to Northeast 3, locally at first West to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3 to 4, gradually Southeast to South Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, at times locally South to Southwest 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, at times locally 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3 to 4, at times locally 4 Smooth to Slight, at times locally Slight

Afternoon Northeast to Southeast 3 to 4, gradually Southeast to Southwest Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, at times 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3 to 4, later locally Northwest to Northeast Smooth to Slight, later locally Slight

Afternoon Northwest to Northeast 3 to 4, at times Southwest to Northwest 4 Smooth to Slight, at times Slight

Night Southeast to Southwest 3, at times locally 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 03/10/2026 UNTIL 0600 04/10/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1015hPa (hectopascal)

Low pressure and unstable airmass are affecting the area. At times local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected. IN STORM AREA WIND MAY BE VARIABLE STRENGTHENING TO 5-6 BEAUFORT WITH STRONGER GUSTS.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 27°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3, soon South to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Slight

Night Northeast to Southeast 3, locally 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

South Coast

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

Afternoon Southwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Slight

Night Northwest to Northeast 3, locally South to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning South to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4 Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, initially South to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

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

Afternoon South to Southwest 3 to 4, at times Variable Slight

Night Southeast to Southwest 3, locally Variable 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Cyprus is moving to secure strategic grain reserves sufficient to cover the country’s needs for 45 days, in addition to stocks held by businesses for commercial purposes, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday.

Speaking at an event marking the 10th anniversary of the Mills Hadjigiorkis Museum in Frenaros, the President said the move was aimed at strengthening the country’s preparedness in the event of disruptions to supply chains amid geopolitical developments in the Middle East and the Black Sea.

‘The geopolitical developments in the Middle East and the Black Sea and their potential impact on supply chains require increased preparedness and preventive planning,’ he added.

The President explained that the strategic reserves would be maintained by domestic companies involved in grain trading and milling, following open tender procedures.

‘This is a preventive and preparedness measure, which we want to strengthen the country’s ability to respond to possible disruptions in the supply of essential goods,’ he said.

Christodoulides also announced that the Government would decide, by September 2027 at the latest, on projects worth pound 3.5 billion to be implemented during the 2028-2034 programming period. Of this amount, pound 2.5 billion would come from European funding and pound 1 billion from national resources.

The President also referred to projects and policies aimed at benefiting residents of the Famagusta district, including a strategic development plan comprising more than 30 projects with a total value of pound 122 million.

Fifty-six countries, including Greece and Cyprus, reaffirmed in a joint statement their commitment to the continued implementation of all relevant obligations enumerated in the United Nations Security Council resolutions that returned into force pursuant to the completion of the ‘snapback’ process.

The joint statement, released on October 2, 2026, was issued by the Governments of the United States of America, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belize, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Yemen.

According to the statement, on September 27, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. EDT, six United Nations Security Council resolutions – 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008), and 1929 (2010) – returned into force pursuant to the completion of the snapback process. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom initiated the process ‘in response to Tehran’s persistent and significant non-performance of its nuclear commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).’

‘One year on,’ the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)-endorsing States listed in the statement affirm their commitment to the ‘continued implementation of all relevant obligations’ enumerated in the reinstated UNSCRs. They further recall that the 2003 Statement of Interdiction Principles, which all PSI participants have endorsed, affirms their adherence to all relevant international law and frameworks, including the UNSCRs.

The countries further commit, consistent with their UNSCR obligations, to continue to take measures to prevent the supply, sale, or transfer to Iran of items, materials, equipment, goods, and technology that could contribute to proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. They also commit to uphold the restrictions on the supply, sale, or transfer of arms and related materiel to or from Iran.

They further reaffirm their commitment to ensuring sufficient domestic legal authorities and capabilities to address Iran’s proliferation-sensitive activities. More concretely, they commit to undertake ‘effective measures’ to prevent the direct or indirect sale, supply, and transfer to and from Iran of items that could contribute to weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery – ‘including UAVs’ – and related materials and items subject to the reinstated UN arms restrictions.

They also commit to adopt ‘streamlined procedures’ to facilitate the rapid exchange between PSI partners of relevant information concerning Iran’s proliferation activities where needed, to continue to keep their national legal authorities under review to ensure the effectiveness of their measures; and to take ‘appropriate specific actions’ in support of interdiction efforts related to Iran’s proliferation activities.

The 56 countries welcome all national-level efforts to implement their UNSCR obligations, as well as relevant activities that support their objective of ‘preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon,’ such as those linked to Operation Economic Outcast.

Finally, they urge all UN Member States to implement these resolutions and reiterate the international community’s ‘longstanding concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.’ They state that they will continue to coordinate their counterproliferation efforts to counter any attempts by Iran to undertake UNSCR-prohibited efforts to resume development of its nuclear or ballistic missile programs.

They also call on Iran ‘to return to compliance with its nonproliferation obligations,’ cooperate fully with the IAEA, and address the international community’s proliferation concerns.

Sixteen EU leaders in a letter to Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, are calling for overall funding for Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to be preserved in the upcoming 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

The letter, dated October 2, is signed by Cyprus President and the leaders of Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. The initiative was coordinated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Romanian President Nicu?or Dan.

The letter is addressed to Martin in his capacity as President of the Council of the EU, ahead of the Irish Presidency’s revision of the Negotiating Box, which is expected before October 13, according to CNA information. It was copied to European Council President António Costa, who, following the October summit, takes on a decisive role in the negotiations on the upcoming MFF.

The leaders acknowledge that the EU faces a changing strategic environment, bringing new challenges but also new opportunities for common European action. The next MFF, they say, must enable Europe to seize these while responding to priorities such as security and defence, competitiveness, connectivity, energy security and resilience. This, however, must not come at the expense of treaty-based policies, which they describe as the backbone of European integration. They stress that the total volume set in the Cyprus Presidency Negotiating Box remains the relevant basis for addressing all needs.

Cohesion and the CAP, they note, promote convergence between member states and regions, strengthen the Single Market and support rural and less developed areas. They also contribute to Europe’s competitiveness and food security and provide tangible support to millions of citizens. Both policies, the leaders recall, have repeatedly adapted to economic and social realities.

Citing their Joint Declaration of May 26, they argue that these policies already face reductions in real terms in the Commission’s proposal, despite an overall increase in the size of the MFF. Further cuts would not modernise the EU budget but would weaken it and risk undermining public support for the European project. The new MFF, they add, already entails a fundamental transformation of its structure, programming and approach to spending.

On revenue, the leaders say they stand ready to work constructively, and that new priorities require adequate additional resources while funding for Agriculture and Cohesion is preserved. They refer to proposals for new own resources that would ease direct pressure on national budgets, which should be “genuine, fair, simple and non-regressive”, in line with the May Declaration. They will carefully consider the adjustments to the proposals that the Commission has committed to present.

They also put forward, as options, a more gradual repayment of NextGenerationEU, which could create additional fiscal space in the next MFF, subject to an assessment of its impact on the overall cost of repayment. They add limited and targeted European debt instruments for clearly identified strategic priorities.

The leaders further call for the current system of rebates to be scrapped, arguing it has no place in the next MFF. Rebates were intended to address an excessive burden on the contributions of certain member states, but the circumstances that originally justified them have fundamentally changed, they point out. In assessing national contributions, they say, account should be taken not only of their absolute level but also of member states’ different levels of prosperity and the relative effort required from each.

It is recalled that Denmark, for the first time, included rebates in its own first negotiating package right at the start of the negotiations, in the second half of 2025, breaking with the “classic” process of leaving them to the end.

The signatories say they count on the Irish Presidency to duly take these considerations into account in preparing its forthcoming Negotiating Box, and stand ready to work with the Presidency and all member states towards an ambitious, balanced and adequately financed MFF.

The letter responds to, but also creates tension with, the rival camp of six countries led by Germany, which called in a similar letter for cuts of several hundred billion euros. Finally, the 16 signatories will meet informally on the margins of the European Council on October 15-16.