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Cyprus, an island of legends that
basks year-round in the light of the warm Mediterranean sun. A historic
island, the third largest in the Mediterranean where modern travellers
retrace the footsteps of legendary figures as diverse as Alexander
the Great, St. Paul, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Today Cyprus is a modern country
that effortlessly marries European culture with Ancient Greek-Roman
enchantment. You will discover a compact world of alluring beaches
and fragrant mountain peaks, vineyards studded with olive trees,
citrus groves, old stone villages and ancient ruins that stir the
imagination.
The people of Cyprus owe their individuality
and warmth to their amazingly colourful history. This sun-drenched
island has been at the crossroads of world events for centuries.
Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and British influences (to name just a
few) have all left their mark. Perhaps that's why Cypriots have
a special gift of making visitors feel at home as soon as they arrive
on the island. The warm welcome, and the unhurried pace of daily
life, makes Cyprus an instant favourite of anyone who comes here.
However, Cypriots managed to positively and creatively assimilate
the foreign influences from all the invaders and to maintain unchanged
the Greek language and the cultural heritage. Incidentally, Greek
Cypriots are the vast majority of the island population and Greek
is one of the two official languages of Cyprus, the second one is
Turkish.
In 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus and
occupied the northern part of the island. More than a quarter of
a century after the invasion by Turkish troops, 37% of the island
is occupied and Cyprus still remains the only divided country in
Europe. However, Cyprus can be proud of all its important achievements,
the greatest of all being its accession to the European Union.
With a modernized economy Cyprus
is in position to be part of a new peaceful and prosperous Europe
in which all Cypriots together, will be able to utilize the vast
opportunities that membership offers. The challenge facing Cyprus
is to ensure that both Greek and Turkish communities have a role
to play in the future of the country. A viable and functional solution
to the Cyprus problem will ensure human rights for all the Cypriot
European citizens and this will guarantee security and well being.
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