REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

HISTORY

Prehistoric And Ancient Cyprus
The Earliest Confirmed Site Of Human Activity On Cyprus Is Aetokremnos, Situated On The South Coast, Indicating That Hunter-Gatherers Were Active On The Island From Around 10,000 BC
Middle Ages
When The Roman Empire Was Divided Into Eastern And Western Parts In 395, Cyprus Became Part Of The East Roman, Or Byzantine Empire, And Would Remain So Until The Crusades Some 800 Years Later.
Independence And Ensuant Intercommunal Violence
On 16 August 1960, Cyprus Attained Independence After The Zurich And London Agreement Between The United Kingdom, Greece And Turkey.
Post-Division
After The Restoration Of Constitutional Order And The Return Of Archbishop Makarios III To Cyprus In December 1974, Turkish Troops Remained, Occupying The North Eastern Portion Of The Island.

GEOGRAPHY

Climate
Cyprus Has A Subtropical Climate – Mediterranean And Semi-Arid Type (In The North-Eastern Part Of The Island) – Koppen Climate Classifications Csa And Bsh, With Very Mild Winters (On The Coast) And Warm To Hot Summers.

POLITICS

Foreign Relations
The Republic Of Cyprus Is A Member Of The Following International Groups: Australia Group, CN, CE, CFSP, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ITUC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Human Rights
In "Freedom In The World 2011", Freedom House Rated The Democracy Of Cyprus As "Free". The Constant Focus On The Division Of The Island Can Sometimes Mask Other Human Rights Issues.

ECONOMY

Petroleum Industry
According To The Latest International Monetary Fund Estimates, Its Per Capita GDP (Adjusted For Purchasing Power) At $28,381 Is Just Above The Average Of The European Union

DEMOGRAPHICS

Ethnic Groups
Kuwait People Are Very Ethnically Diverse. 80% Of The Total Population In Kuwait Is Arab (Including Arab Foreigners), 9% South And East Asian Expatriates, And 4% Are Iranian Expatriates
Religion
Almost All Greek Cypriots Are Members Of The Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church Of Cyprus, Whereas Most Turkish Cypriots Are Adherents Of Sunni Islam.
Languages
Cyprus Has Two Official Languages, Greek And Turkish. Armenian And Cypriot Maronite Arabic Are Recognized As Minority Languages. Although Without Official Status, English Is Widely Spoken. English Features On Road Signs, Public Notices, And In Advertisements, Etc

CULTURE

Cuisine
Seafood And Fish Dishes Include Squid, Octopus, Red Mullet, And Sea Bass. Cucumber And Tomato Are Used Widely In Salads. Common Vegetable Preparations Include Potatoes In Olive Oil And Parsley, Pickled Cauliflower And Beets, Asparagus And Taro
Art
The Art History Of Cyprus Can Be Said To Stretch Back Up To 10,000 Years, Following The Discovery Of A Series Of Chalcolithic Period Carved Figures In The Villages Of Khoirokoitia And Lempa.

EDUCATION

Education
Cyprus Has A Highly Developed System Of Primary And Secondary Education Offering Both Public And Private Education. The High Quality Of Instruction Can Be Attributed To A Large Extent To The Above-Average Competence Of The Teachers

CYPRUS EMBASSY IN SRI LANKA

Address
Green Lanka Towers, 8th Floor, 46/46, Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 2
Telephone
+94 112 302 533
Fax
+94 112 302 534
Email
cyprusconsul@sltnet.lk

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