Cyprus launches Nostos funding scheme to preserve occupied territories' heritage

On November 9, 2026, Deputy Minister of Culture Klea Hatzistefanou-Papaellina announced the launch of a new funding program titled 'Nostos'. The scheme, which features a total budget of 100,000 euros, is designed to support the preservation of the history and cultural identity of Cyprus's occupied communities.

The announcement took place during a press conference held by the Union of Occupied Municipalities at the Press and Information Office in Nicosia, coinciding with the presentation of the 'Memories of Occupied Land' event. During her speech, the Deputy Minister emphasized that 52 years after the Turkish invasion, the occupation remains a critical national issue. She framed the initiative not merely as an act of nostalgia, but as a strategic form of resistance against forgetting, aimed at ensuring that historical facts regarding these regions remain part of the collective consciousness for future generations.

This funding program aims to provide the necessary financial instruments to safeguard cultural heritage that is currently at risk. The government initiative underscores a persistent commitment to maintaining historical awareness and accessibility to the stories and heritage of the occupied territories as part of a broader effort to defend historical continuity.