Cyprus and France sign a culture declaration that names archaeological research and heritage

Cyprus and France have signed a declaration of intent to strengthen their cooperation in culture, with archaeological research and the protection of cultural heritage among the fields it names. Cyprus's Deputy Minister of Culture, Clea Papaellina, and the French Minister of Culture, Catherine Pégard, put their names to it in Paris during a visit of 19–21 October; the Deputy Ministry of Culture announced the signing on 20 October.

According to the Deputy Ministry, the declaration applies to every area of culture. Besides heritage and archaeology, its stated priorities include artist exchanges and joint work in literature, music, cinema, crafts, and the visual and performing arts.

When the Deputy Ministry set out the trip on 18 October, it called the meeting with Pégard its centrepiece. The programme also listed talks at UNESCO with its Director-General, Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz, and meetings with Gilles Pécout, President of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and Christophe Leribault, President-Director of the Louvre.

French teams have excavated in Cyprus for half a century. The French School at Athens has worked at Amathus since 1975, and a mission from Lyon at Kition-Bamboula since 1976. The Amathus team's second season on the acropolis west terrace ran from 30 March to 24 April 2026.