General Info
| Cyprus general information |
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The beautiful island of Cyprus with its 10,000 years of history is in the extreme eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea and standing as it does at the crossroads of three continents Europe, Asia and Africa it has had a tumultuous history. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean with an area of 3,572 sq. miles. It has a maximum length of 150 miles from east to west and a maximum width of 60 miles from north to south. Renowned for its healthy and pleasant climate Cyprus enjoys dry summers and mild winters. The sun is shining for more than 300 days per year. Minimum temperatures in the winter are 6°C to 13°C and warmest temperatures in the summer vary between 21°C to occasionally 40°C. Over two and a half million visitors choose Cyprus every year. It is a general consensus that the natural beauties of the island, its unspoiled environment and archaeological wealth and the traditional hospitality of its people, make Cyprus an ideal place for holidays, relaxation and retirement. According to the Zurich-London Treaty, Cyprus becomes an Independent republic on August 16, 1960. Refer to the Constitution; Cyprus is a Republic with a Presidential system of government. Cyprus is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement. According to the above treaty, Britain retains two Sovereign Bases (158,5 sq. km) on the island, at Dhekelia and Akrotiri-Episkopi. The Independent and Sovereign Republic of Cyprus is a member of the United Nations Organization, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and full member of the European Union. For the very long time Cyprus has kept friendly relations with Eastern European and Mediterranean countries. The Cyprus currency system was based on the decimal system, with the Cyprus Pound (CYP) made up of 100 cents. Coins range in value from the half cent (very rare), 1 cent (rare) to 50 cents and there are 4 banknotes: 1, 5, 10 and 20 Cyprus pounds. Currently, the official Cyprus currency is the Euro. In banking practice, the range of services offered and the methods of management and control closely follow the British and Greek traditions. The main domestic and foreign banks operating on the island are: The Bank of Cyprus, The Cyprus Popular Bank, The Hellenic Bank, Alpha Bank, The National Bank of Greece, The Commercial Bank of Greece and The Arab Bank. Recent statistics pointed to Cyprus as one of the most inexpensive countries in Europe. The local markets present a wealth of local fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, and modern supermarkets are stocked up with a large range of local and imported goods. Medical costs are relatively low in the government hospitals. Private doctors are charging from 25 to 40 Euro per private consultation with a competent doctor or surgeon, most of them qualified from British, Greek or US universities. Today, Cyprus international airports at Larnaca and Paphos are servicing more than 30 major airlines, including the Cyprus national carrier Cyprus Airways. CYTA, the Cyprus telecommunication authority is among the best in the world - an important factor in establishing the island as an offshore business centre. Driving is on the left in Cyprus and distances between towns are relatively short, covered by a good network of modern motorways. Greek is the native language of Cyprus, however English is spoken and understood almost everywhere. Knowledge of French, Russian and German is increasing in the last years. |
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 05 April 2008 ) |
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