Twinning ceremony between Akanthou and Irakleio Attikis

On Thursday, October 29, 2026, a twinning ceremony was held in Oroklini, Cyprus, between the occupied municipality of Akanthou and the Greek municipality of Irakleio Attikis. The event took place at the Chrysosoteros chapel, with the Minister of Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, attending as the representative of the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

During the ceremony, Ioannou reiterated the government's commitment to the liberation and reunification of Cyprus, describing the twinning as a bridge of cooperation that preserves historical memory. The event served as a reciprocal follow-up to a memorandum signed in June 2026 in Irakleio Attikis. Mayor of Akanthou, Eleni Chatzimichail, and Mayor of Irakleio Attikis, Nikos Bambalos, were praised for their initiative to strengthen ties between their respective local governments. The Mayor of Akanthou further utilized the occasion to highlight the need for equality for refugees and the implementation of measures against the illegal usurpation of properties in the occupied territories.

The initiative aims to foster solidarity and maintain awareness of the Cyprus issue. No further specific legal or administrative actions were announced at the event, which primarily focused on symbolic and political reinforcement of the bilateral relationship.