The island offers a varied surroundings with plains and mountains, forest and sandy beaches. Forests are not more than two hours drive from the shore.

Cyprus is a democratic society where human rights, freedom of speech and private property are safeguarded. It is a modern country with a high quality of life and a major tourist center.

Cyprus is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Council of Europe. It is also a full member of the European Union.

The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia, where you can find the new and old city. It is the Government and business center with an assortment of discos, bars, clubs and restaurants.

The town of Limassol is situated in the southern part and is the island’s main port. Limassol has a large variety of scenery and a large number of cultural attributes. It is a resort consisting of ten miles seashore with taverns, restaurants, clubs and discos.

The third most populous town is Larnaca where is the is islands International Airport important harbor.

Pafos town lies in the western part of the island with the second International Airport. Paphos is the town with the most history. According to mythology it is the birth place of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love.

Famagusta district, in the eastern part of Cyprus consists of three town, Agia Napa, Protaras and Paralimni. It is a major tourist center with international reputation for its night life and beautiful sandy beaches.

Cyprus has excellent communications and transportation. With two International Airports and two major ports Cyprus is connected with all countries of the world. More than 30 scheduled Airlines and 60 Chartered Airlines operate more than 600 flights weekly to and from Cyprus.

Island communications are excellent. Good motorway network, busses and taxis operate daily. There is also a public transport with regular connections between cities.

Cyprus has a very high standard of medical services. There are hospitals, private clinics and medical centers equipped with the latest technology. Cyprus is free from dangerous infections diseases.

Cyprus is well known for its excellent education system. Pre primary, Primary and secondary education is free and compylsary. There is a number of colleges and Institutions offering courses in every field of science and technology. The Cyprus University with its high standards of education accepts students from home and abroad. There are also English Schools and other ethnic schools.

The currency of the Republic is the Cyprus pound- CY£, which is divided into 100 cents. Notes and coins currently in circulation are as follows:

Banknotes: CY£20, CY£10, CY£5, CY£1.

Coins: 1cent, 2cents, 5cents, 10cents, 20cents, 50cents.

Commercial Banks quote daily the exchange rates of the Cyprus pound against all major foreign currencies.

Cyprus is Classified among the high income countries, with a per capital income of CY £9.477 in 2004. It has a standard of living that is even highest than some European Union member-states and the performance of the economy compares favourably with that of most EU countries.

These achievements appear all the more striking, bearing in mind the severe economic and social dislocation created by the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the continuing occupation of the northern part of the island by Turkey.

The success of Cyprus in the economic sphere is attributed, inter alia, to the adoption of a market oriented economic system, the pursuance of sound macroeconomic policies by the government as well as the existence of a dynamic and flexible entrepreneurship and a highly educated labour force.

During the last decade, Cyprus has intensified its relations with the European Union its largest trading partner. On May 1st 2004, Cyprus became as full member of the EU.

The economic benefits of EU accession to Cyprus, as a whole, are quite substantial. Cyprus goods and services will have access to a huge single market consisting of some of the most advanced countries in Europe. Cyprus participation in the Union’s internal market, an area where free movement of goods, services, persons and goods is ensured, will lead in the long term to a more efficient allocation of factors of production towards activities in which Cyprus possesses comparative advantages. This will have positive repercussions on growth and employment.