Two expanded conferences on the Cyprus issue were held in 2025, in Geneva and New York, while the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis, and the new leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Tufan Erhiurman, expressed readiness to work for a new expanded meeting under the UN Secretary-General. In 2025, the UN Secretary-General appointed Maria Angela Holguin as his Personal Envoy for the Cyprus issue, while Johannes Hahn was also appointed as the EU's Special Envoy.
Nicosia, which continues to promote cooperation and synergies in Europe and the Middle East and strive to strengthen its role in the region, welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the first President of the Emirates to visit the country, while Cyprus and France signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement.
Cyprus prepared to take over the EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2026.
The importance of the Cyprus-Greece-Egypt tripartite cooperation in promoting stability and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean was highlighted during the 10th Tripartite Summit held in January in Cairo. In the context of the Cyprus-Egypt Intergovernmental Summit, under Presidents Nikos Christodoulidis and Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, memoranda of cooperation were signed in areas such as IT, education, tourism, health, water resources, investments and nuclear safety.
Nicosia welcomed the US presidential decision allowing Cyprus access to important US defense programs.
President Christodoulidis submitted an eight-point package of roadblocks and other Confidence Building Measures to Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar.
The challenges in the Cyprus region and the ongoing Turkish occupation make it even more imperative to strengthen the security, our defense armor and the country's deterrent power, said President Christodoulidis, in the context of the presentation of the Annual Governance Planning in 2025.
Finally, the UN Security Council unanimously renewed UNFICYP's mandate until January 2026, supporting efforts to restart negotiations.
In February, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peace Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, visited Cyprus and assured the President of the Republic of the Secretary-General's strong commitment to work with the parties in Cyprus for the upcoming meeting in Geneva. He also visited Athens and Ankara.
An Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Cairo between Cyprus and Egypt and the Licensee for the development of the natural gas field "Aphrodite" and Block 6 of the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The will of the Republic of Cyprus to help for a positive perspective for Syria was conveyed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Konstantinos Kombos, to the transitional Government of the country during his visit to Damascus.
President Christodoulidis described the state visit to Cyprus in March of King William-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, following his own invitation, as "historic". It was the first since the independence of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960.
The great effort begins today, the President of the Republic declared, after the conclusion of the informal extended meeting on the Cyprus issue in Geneva, expressing satisfaction with its outcome. His decision to appoint a personal envoy in order to prepare the next steps in the Cyprus issue was announced in Geneva after the conclusion of the Informal Enlarged Meeting by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, announcing a new such meeting to be held at the end of July. The two leaders decided on a series of confidence-building initiatives, including the opening of four new crossing points.
A joint letter was sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, regarding the EU's desire for active involvement in the Cyprus issue.
Besides, President Christodoulidis participated in the multilateral summit of leaders in Paris for Ukraine, but also in a meeting in the French capital with the participation of France, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon and Syria, for the region.
In April, the first meeting of President Christodoulidis with the leader of the Turkish Cypriots Ersin Tatar took place, after the extended one in Geneva. The President of the Republic spoke of another positive step after the meeting, saying that there was progress in 4 of the 6 issues.
The list of members of the Technical Committee on Youth Issues, which was one of the measures agreed by the two leaders during the summit in Geneva, was shared with the United Nations. The President of the Republic attended the funeral of Pope Francis, in the Basilica of Saint Peter, in the Vatican.
President Christodoulidis began his visits to other member states and candidate countries for accession, in view of the assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU by the Republic of Cyprus in the first half of 2026. The first stop is Spain, followed by Portugal, Serbia, and Montenegro.
The EU Commissioner responsible for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suitsa paid a visit to Cyprus.
President Christodoulidis made a series of contacts in the USA, with the aim of strengthening the international image of the Republic of Cyprus as a reliable investment destination and exploiting the country's comparative advantages in areas of high strategic importance.
The appointment of Maria Angela Holguin as his Personal Envoy for the Cyprus issue was announced in May by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, while Johannes Hahn was appointed as the EU's Special Envoy.
A meeting was held between President Christodoulidis and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, at Ledra Palace, in which they agreed on new initiatives related to the environment and climate change. Later that month, Mrs. Holgin paid a visit to Cyprus. She referred to the leaders' commitment to progress before the July meeting, in her remarks after her meeting with the President of the Republic.
"We are very close to reaching" an agreement on defense and security issues, President Christodoulidis said after meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London.
The President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tassoulas, made his first official visit to Cyprus after taking office.
A conversation between the President of the Republic and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, took place on the sidelines of the Summit of the European Political Community, in Tirana, Albania.
The PtD continued its visits in view of the EU Presidency in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Finland.
The bill for automatic registration in the electoral rolls was passed by the Plenary Session of the Parliament.
In June, the President of the Republic convened an emergency National Security Council, following Israel's attacks on Iran.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Cyprus for an official visit. The leaders of Cyprus and India referred to the strengthening of Cyprus-India cooperation. A Joint Declaration on the Implementation of the Comprehensive Partnership between the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of India was signed.
The President of the Republic participated in the 3rd United Nations Conference on Oceans, held in Nice, France. On the sidelines, he had a meeting with the UN Secretary-General, with whom he discussed the Cyprus issue, and also with the King of Jordan.
President Christodoulidis made visits to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, ahead of his assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU.
In July, the second enlarged conference on the Cyprus issue took place, this time at the headquarters of the United Nations, in New York. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that there would be another informal meeting in the current format later in 2025. He noted progress seen on four of the six confidence-building initiatives agreed by the two leaders in March and that discussions would continue on the remaining two, the opening of four crossing points and solar power in the neutral zone.
The President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, made a one-day official visit to Cyprus.
The Foreign Ministers of France, Jean-Noel Barot, and of the United Kingdom, David Lammy, also made visits to Cyprus.
The UN Secretary General's reports on his good services in Cyprus and UNFICYP have been released.
A Memorandum of Cooperation on Long-Term Planning issues (Foresight) was signed in Athens between the Republic of Cyprus and the Hellenic Republic.
A repatriation ceremony was held for the bones of Helladic heroes of ELDYK who fell during the Turkish invasion of 1974.
In August, the Government announced that it is continuing and intensifying the protests and demonstrations and has made complaints to the UN Secretary-General, EU institutions, permanent members of the SA, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, etc., in order to end the illegal detention of 5 Greek Cypriots in the occupied territories since July and that it is considering taking legal measures before the ECtHR.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker paid an official visit to Cyprus, with President Christodoulides noting that Austria is a reliable and valuable partner within the EU, with which Cyprus has common approaches.
A farewell meeting was held between President Christodoulidis and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of UNFICYP, Colin Stewart.
A group of experts from the US federal ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) service, at the request of Nicosia, conducted an autopsy at the site of the fatal fire in the mountainous Limassol of July 23 and 24. In their report, they attribute the cause to a carelessly discarded cigarette that came into contact with dry vegetation.
In September, the UN Secretary-General announced the appointment of Kassim Dian of Senegal as his new Special Representative in Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP, succeeding Colin Stewart.
President Christodoulidis sent a clear message to the President of Turkey, to follow the path of responsibility for ending the occupation and the reunification of Cyprus, from the floor of the 80th UN General Assembly, stressing, at the same time, that he is ready to assume his responsibilities for the reunification of Cyprus.
On the sidelines of the General Assembly, the President of the Republic held a joint meeting with the UN Secretary General and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar. Mr. Guterres underlined the UN's firm and unwavering commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus issue for the benefit of all Cypriots.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, referred to the creation of a new European firefighting hub based in Cyprus, which will be able to support neighboring states in the region.
The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, visited Nicosia as part of a tour of European capitals.
President Christodoulidis made contacts in Canada following his visit to the USA to attract quality investments to Cyprus.
The House of Representatives hosted the 18th Conference of the Speakers of Parliaments of Small States of Europe.
There is a window of hope for the resolution of the Cyprus problem, the President of the Republic said in October, in his televised message for the 65th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Cyprus, noting that the wall of occupation is not impenetrable.
The new Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and Head of UNFICYP, Kassim Dian, arrived in Cyprus, stating in his first statement that he looks forward to cooperation with all parties.
President Christodoulidis presented the initiative of the Republic of Cyprus related to security, the reconstruction of Gaza and the humanitarian sector during his contacts at the Summit on Gaza held in Sharm El Sheikh.
The confirmation ceremony of the new Chief of the EF, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Theodoros, who succeeded Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas in the leadership of the EF, took place.
The US has extended for 1 year the lifting of the arms embargo against the Republic of Cyprus until September 30, 2026.
The role of the Republic of Cyprus in the effort to deal with the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East region was mentioned by President Christodoulidis, during the work of the MED9 Synod in Slovenia.
A working visit of President Christodoulidis took place in Zagreb, Croatia in view of his upcoming assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU.
President Christodoulidis expressed his readiness to hold a joint meeting as soon as possible in a telephone conversation with the new Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhiurman, immediately after the results of the voting process in the occupied territories.
In November, the first meeting of President Christodoulidis with Mr. Erhiurman took place at the residence of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Kassim Dian. They agreed on a joint meeting with the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General on the Cyprus issue and expressed readiness to work for a new expanded meeting under the UN Secretary General.
Cyprus and Lebanon signed an Agreement on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the two countries and agreed to promote the Cyprus-Lebanon electrical interconnection investigation by creating technical teams and carrying out a feasibility study.
The principle position of the Republic of Cyprus that no solution can be imposed on Ukraine, emphasized the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulidis in a teleconference of the Alliance of the Willing.
Continuing EU support to Ukraine is a key priority of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council, President Christodoulidis said after a meeting in December with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Kyiv.
The President of the Republic proceeded with a reshuffle with changes in five portfolios. Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry Michalis Damianos, who served as Minister of Health. The Minister of Labor and Social Insurance was appointed MP of DIPA, Marinos Mousiouttas. Marios Hartsiotis moved from Minister of Justice to the position of Commissioner of the Presidency. Konstantinos Fitiris was appointed in his place. Neophytos Charalambidis was appointed Minister of Health. New Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Hadjistefanou Papaellina.
PtD and Erhiurman made a joint visit to the DEA and a meeting with Mrs. Holgin. "The two leaders agreed that the real goal is to resolve the Cyprus issue with political equality, as described in the UN Security Council Resolutions," said a UN statement in Cyprus after the meeting.
The time has come for results on the Cyprus issue, said the EU's Special Envoy for the Cyprus issue, Johannes Hahn, during his meeting with the President of the Republic earlier in the day.
First visit to Cyprus made by the President of the UAE. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Christodoulidis expressed their will to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation in various fields. Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates signed a Joint Communiqué.
A Strategic Partnership Agreement between Cyprus and France was signed during the visit of President Christodoulides to Paris where he met his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.
The leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Israel expressed determination to continue and deepen cooperation despite the geopolitical challenges after the 10th Tripartite Summit held in Jerusalem.
The priorities and the logo of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU were presented by the President of the Republic.
