POLITICS

The Cyprus-Greece-Egypt Trilateral Summit is taking place today in El Alamein, with the participation of President Nikos Christodoulides, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The summit will begin at 1 p.m., followed by statements to the media by the three leaders.

The discussions will focus on critical geopolitical developments in the region and the strengthening of trilateral relations. Before the summit, President Christodoulides will hold a bilateral meeting with his Egyptian counterpart. During his visit, he will also attend, as President Sisi’s guest of honour, the opening ceremony of the El-Alamein International Airshow.

President Christodoulides said he hoped to hold another two or three meetings with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman before travelling to New York later this month for the United Nations General Assembly. He was speaking on Monday during a meeting with the Mayor and members of the Morphou Municipal Council.

During a telephone conversation with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the President discussed the Cyprus issue, bilateral relations and regional developments. According to Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the two leaders agreed to hold their first meeting within September, on the sidelines of the high-level week of the UN General Assembly.

President Christodoulides congratulated Mr Burnham on assuming office and wished him success. The leaders referred to the historic and multifaceted relations between Cyprus and the United Kingdom, prospects for further cooperation, and EU-UK relations.

The President reiterated Cyprus’ readiness to play a constructive role in deepening EU-UK cooperation and said that resolving the Cyprus issue remained his highest priority. He briefed the British Prime Minister on the UN Secretary-General’s efforts and on the importance of the current opportunity to resume substantive negotiations within the agreed framework of the relevant Security Council resolutions.

Mr Christodoulides highlighted the important role the United Kingdom can play as a guarantor power, a permanent member of the Security Council and penholder for resolutions concerning Cyprus. The two leaders also exchanged views on the Middle East and agreed to remain in close contact.

A Downing Street statement said the British Prime Minister praised Cyprus’ support for London’s efforts to move closer to the European Union. Andy Burnham thanked Cyprus for supporting the promotion of UK-EU relations during its Presidency and expressed the British government’s intention to continue moving closer to the Union.

The statement also referred to the historic ties between the two countries and cooperation concerning the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus. The leaders discussed developments in the Middle East, with the British Prime Minister stressing the need for cooperation to de-escalate tensions and the UK’s support for efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. They also looked forward to meeting in person as soon as possible.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will make a one-day visit to Cyprus on Thursday, 10 September, at the invitation of President Christodoulides. He will be received at the Presidential Palace and hold a private meeting with the President. Expanded talks between the two countries’ delegations and statements by the two Presidents will follow.

President Christodoulides also said that all government moves aim to strengthen the country’s internal and external factors of power, which, he said, also assists efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue. He referred to his visit to Egypt, including bilateral and trilateral meetings, and expressed hope for several more meetings with the Turkish Cypriot leader before New York.

He also referred to the upcoming visit by the Israeli President and to plans for a trilateral meeting of the Defence Ministers with Egypt, followed by a meeting of the Foreign Ministers. He said Cyprus would subsequently host the official trilateral meeting and linked these developments to government efforts to increase citizens’ disposable income through tax and pension reform and other measures.

House President Annita Demetriou said the goal remained a Cyprus settlement that would permanently end the occupation and reunite the Republic of Cyprus, without occupying troops, outdated guarantees or intervention rights for third countries. In a memorial speech for EOKA hero Stavros Stylianidis in Ergatés, she referred to the activity surrounding the Cyprus issue and the UN Secretary-General’s initiatives to create the conditions for substantive negotiations to resume.

Negotiators Menelaos Menelaou and Mehmet Dana met on Monday ahead of Wednesday’s meeting between the leaders. According to CNA information, they had a “good discussion” as part of the preparations.

ECONOMY

Finance Minister Makis Keravnos stressed during a meeting of the Labour Advisory Board that fiscal balances and the sustainability of the economy must not be put at risk. Economic aspects of pension reform were discussed, while a possible increase in the retirement age was a point of disagreement.

The social partners requested specific economic data, which the Finance Minister said he would submit in the coming days. Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas reiterated that the aim was to implement the reform on 1 January 2027. Mr Keravnos said the government effort was focused on the first pillar and increasing low-pensioners’ pensions, while safeguarding economic sustainability and fiscal balance.

According to Eurostat data, Cyprus’ seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 0.8% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the previous quarter, while employment rose by 0.5%. Year on year, GDP increased by 3.3% and employment by 1.6%.

Quarterly growth stood at 0.8%, up from 0.5% in the first quarter of 2026. Increases of 1.2% and 0.8% had been recorded in the fourth and third quarters of 2025 respectively. On an annual basis, growth accelerated to 3.3% from 3%, while increases of 4.2% and 3.5% had been recorded in the fourth and third quarters of 2025.

Employment increased by 1.7% in terms of persons and by 2.2% in terms of hours worked in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Statistical Service. The total number of employed people reached 525,167, including 472,254 employees and 52,913 self-employed people. The largest percentage increases were recorded in wholesale and retail trade, the repair of motor vehicles, construction, and arts, entertainment and recreation. Actual hours worked reached 246,570 thousand.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a letter to MEP Michalis Hadjipantela that no Common Agricultural Policy payments were directed to livestock farmers in areas not under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus.

Further increases in fuel prices are expected in the coming period, Consumer Protection Service Director Konstantinos Karagiorghis told CNA. He said refinery prices were showing upward trends. On Monday morning, the nationwide average price was €1.625 for unleaded 95, €1.884 for diesel and €1.50 for heating oil.

The Cyprus Stock Exchange recorded gains on Monday. The General Index closed at 319.60 points, up 0.26%, with transaction value at €176,271.45. The FTSE/CySE 20 closed at 187.77 points, also up 0.26%.

HEALTH AND SOCIETY

According to World Health Organization estimates for Cyprus in 2021, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia were the second most common cause of death among women, with 49.9 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, and the sixth most common among men, with 26.8 deaths per 100,000. The Ithaki Foundation, marking World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September, stressed the need for information, prevention, early diagnosis and support for patients and their families.

Justice and Public Order Minister Kostas Fytiris told the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee that 10,000 cases of gender-based and domestic violence had been reported to the police over the past five years, with almost 7,000 reaching the courts. He also said a platform called Red Flagging was being prepared and that cooperation between the competent services was lacking.

The Parliamentary Finance Committee approved by majority the release of €595,000 for the purchase of a new armoured limousine for the Presidency of the Republic. Asked about the decision, President Christodoulides replied: “no comment on the vehicle issue”.

The President expressed his sorrow over the death of Popi Christoforou, who died on Sunday, 6 September, after battling cancer. He described her as a “symbol of mental strength, dignity and determination”. Her funeral will be held on Thursday, 10 September, at 14:00, at the Church of Agia Triada, followed by burial at Agios Nikolaos cemetery.

The European Court of Human Rights put questions to the parties involved in the application of former Auditor-General Odysseas Michaelides against the Republic of Cyprus, filed on 9 December 2024 and communicated to the Republic on 20 August 2026. The questions concern a possible interference with the right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the Convention, and whether such interference was prescribed by law, pursued a legitimate aim and was necessary in a democratic society.

EDUCATION AND CULTURE

The new school year in secondary education began smoothly and without serious problems, Deputy Director of Secondary General Education Giorgos Koutsides told CNA. He said there were limited staffing issues caused by last-minute resignations or early retirements, amounting to 0.3%.

Education, Sports and Youth Minister Athena Michaelidou is travelling to Paris to participate in the UNESCO Ministerial Meeting on Education, as part of UNESCO Digital Learning Week 2026. She will meet UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education and hold bilateral meetings with counterparts. Her return to Cyprus is scheduled for 9 September.

Cypriot antiquities will be displayed outside Cyprus for the first time at “The Making of a Goddess”, an exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum of the University of Oxford. The exhibition will trace the course and transformations of Aphrodite over 5,000 years, from her early origins in Cyprus to the present day, combining archaeology, sculpture, painting, contemporary art and fashion.

The 16th Cyprus International Short Film Festival will take place at Rialto Theatre from 10 to 16 October. For the first time, the Peer Award, selected by filmmakers for a Cypriot film in the competition section, and the Audience Award, carrying a €500 cash prize, will be presented.

SPORTS

Omonia defeated Aris Limassol 4-1 at Alphamega Stadium in the second round of the Cyprus League by Stoiximan. Omonia’s goals were scored by Lois Diony in the fifth and 57th minutes, Lubomir Satka in the 49th and Luke Brouwers in the 74th. Aris’ goal was scored by Roddy Effaghe in the 53rd minute.

Pafos FC and Olympiakos Nicosia drew 0-0 in the second round. In the 59th minute, Mumi Nicolas Ngamaleu put the ball in Olympiakos’ net, but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review.

Cypriot para-archery world champion and world No. 1 Christos Misos won gold in the VI1 category at the Ahmedabad 2026 Hyundai World Archery Para Series. He finished first in the ranking round with 451 points and prevailed in the knockout stages despite difficult weather conditions.

Karolina Pelendritou reached the final of the women’s 50m freestyle in the S11 category at the European Para-Swimming Championships in Kocaeli, Turkey. She finished second in her heat in 30.63 and recorded the third-best qualifying time. The final was scheduled for after 17:00, with the athlete seeking the eighth European medal of her career.

Keravnos honoured its historic football section as part of celebrations marking the club’s centenary. Around 150 former footballers and officials received commemorative plaques. The event reviewed the section’s promotion to the First Division after winning the Second Division championship in 1979, its return to the top flight in 1988 and the suspension of its operation in 1992. The evening ended with a veterans’ friendly match.

PARTIES

AKEL Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou said pension reform must substantially improve pensioners’ incomes, address distortions and protect future generations. After meeting Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas, he said AKEL was ready for meaningful dialogue and raised issues including the 12% reduction for retirement at 63 and the survivor’s pension for men whose wives died before 2018.

The Democratic Party expressed its sorrow over the death of Popi Christoforou, describing her as a symbol of strength, dignity and the struggle for justice and vindication. DIΠΑ referred to the loss of her two children in the explosion at the “Evangelos Florakis” naval base in Mari in 2011.

DIΠΑ President Marios Garoyian congratulated newly elected EDEK President Sofia Christodoulou Makri by telephone. The two presidents agreed to meet shortly to exchange views on important issues concerning Cyprus.

Source: CNA

aa re mike