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issue 4, year XVI, 2009 |
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DIMITRIS CHRISTOFIAS, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS, SPECIALLY FOR "EUROPE 2001" MAGAZINE
Interview by Zdravka Mihaylova
Page 4
STEFANOS STEFANOU, GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS: BULGARIA AND CYPRUS SHOULD PRESERVE AND DEVELOP THEIR TRADITIONS
Interview by Zdravka Mihaylova
Page 6
CYPRUS: A VISITING CARD
Page 8
H. E. MR. STAVROS AVGUSTIDIS, CHARGE D'AFFAIRES OF THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS IN SOFIA,
SPECIALLY FOR "EUROPE 2001" MAGAZINE: ABSORPTION OF EUROPEAN FUNDS IS NOT A FACT, IT IS A CHALLENGE
Page 9
FIVE YEARS AFTER THE ACCESSION OF CYPRUS TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
By Georgos Vassiliu, Former President of Cyprus (1988-1993) and head of the EU negotiation group of Cyprus (1998-2003)
Page 11
On 1st May 2009 five years since the accession of Cyprus to the European Union passed. When Cyprus became a candidate and later, when in 1998 the negotiations started, very few believed that Cyprus would succeed before the Cyprian problem with the occupation of the north part of the island was settled. Nevertheless, this aim was achieved.
During the last five years, after the accession, it has been said that the Cyprian economy would lag behind. On the contrary, it has developed in a positive direction, having one of the highest rates in Europe. Not only there was no unemployment but the country encountered a serious deficiency of manpower, which has been overcome fast by importing workers citizens of the EU.
CYPRUS: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND SERVICE CENTRE
By materials of the Press and information office, in cooperation with the Cyprus service centre for foreign investors
Page 14
"Cyprus offers a strategic location, favourable tax environment, educated work force, excellent telecommunications, modern banking and legal infrastructure which make the country the perfect business bridge for the European Union and the Middle East," said the Wall Street Journal on May 5th 2004.
Cyprus is strategically located in the Eastern Mediterranean lying at the hub of three continents and close to the busy trade routes linking Western Europe with the Arab World and the Far East. Cyprus has an open free market economy. The island is often referred to as a European country in the Middle East. The economy is driven by the strong tourism and services sectors and a stable export-oriented industry. Indicatively, the services sector contributes around 73.8% to the GDP. Apart from tourism, finance, insurance and business services are the main contributors followed by social and personal services.
THE BULGARIAN EXILES IN CYPRUS
By Ioannis Theoharidis
Page 17
In their historical progress all nations have their periods of peak revolutionary moments. For Bulgarians the April Rebellion was such a period during the Ottoman rule. The rebellion gave expression to the willingness and striving for freedom of Bulgarians and was a result of economical, social, political, ideological and intellectual processes during the Bulgarian national revival. After the brutal crushing of the rebellion some of the Bulgarian rebels were sent in exile in Cyprus. The exiles were locked in the Nicosia fortress only at night, while during the day they were free to go or work in the city. When the local people on the island understood who the exiles were, they tried to help them and behaved very kindly.
CYPRUS AND THE REPUBLIC OF VENICE: IN THE SHADOW OF THE LION OF SAN MARCO
By Zdravka Evgenieva
Page 19
Nasa Patapiu is a researcher interested in the period of Latin rule over Cyprus, in particular the Venetian one. Her last researches have been made on the base of unpublished records of the Venetian national public record office.
The Venetian rule of Cyprus (1489-1571) was a crucial period of the history of the island because Venetians considered it the last bastion against the Ottomans in the East Mediterranean. The island was fortified with impressive citadels which are until today considered a model example of military architecture.
CYPRIANS EDUCATED IN BUGARIA
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SOTIROULA CHARALAMBOUS
KYRIAKOS KYRIAKOU
PANOS PEONIDIS
IOANNIS THEOHARIDIS
CHRISTOS HADJIPAPAS
THE DIVINE ISLAND
By Maria Angelova
Page 30
Cyprus is an island which offers various ways to spend your holiday. You can either lie idly on the beach and take advantage of the different spa and wellness procedures, or have an active holiday. Cyprus is the perfect place to go cycling or hiking in the mountains. In addition to beautiful nature the island has rich cultural, architectural and historical heritage. Some of the sites, such as the Neolithic settlement Chirokitia, the city of Pafos and the churches on the Troodos Mountain are included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
THE BYZANTINE MUSEUM IN NICOSIA
THE EXHIBITIONS "IMAGES OF SAINT MARY" AND "HOSTAGES IN GERMANY"
By Zdravka Evgenieva
Page 32
The Byzantine Museum of Makarios III Foundation is situated in the heart of Nicosia. There are two exhibitions at the museum which present two different aspects of the Cyprian religious art. "Images of Saint Mary" is exposed between March 31st and September 30th 2009 - the time of the year when the Orthodox Church celebrates the majority of holidays dedicated to Virgin Mary.
"Hostages in Germany" presents the destiny of many of the stolen Cyprian icons, church plate, murals, manuscripts and even bells, roofs and shutter after the Turkish invasion in Cyprus in 1974. Thousands of religious objects have been exported illegally and have been "hostages" in many countries around the world until today.
NICOSIA: THE LAST DIVIDED CITY
By Zdravka Mihaylova
Page 34
With population of 170,000 Nicosia is the biggest city in Cyprus. It is located in the heart of the island, functions as a residence of the President and the government and is a busy business centre. After the destruction of the Berlin Wall Nicosia has remained the last divided capital in the world.
For more than 35 years now Cyprus has been divided into two parts and there is no place where this fact is more tangible than in Nicosia, whose heart has been divided forcibly by the UN controlled zone, known as the "buffer zone" between the Greek and Turkish part of the island.
In 1979-1985 a group of Greek and Turkish architects, engineers, sociologists and economists united their experience to create the so called Nicosia Master Plan, designed to turn the buffer zone into a busy social and trade centre again.
SAINT MARY OF THE CLOISTER AMONG EBONY
By Goran Blagoev
Page 39
The Kykkos Monastery is believed to be the biggest, the oldest and the richest monastery in Cyprus. Once it was among the richest monasteries in the Middle East, owning lands in Russia, Georgia and Asia. A legend goes that during a big Greek rebellion in 1821 Ottomans plundered the monastery's gold and silver and needed 16 camels to take it away. Even though the monastery had been destroyed, very soon it flourished again. It is said that even today it is the biggest landowner of the island. But its economical power pales in comparison with the fame that brings it the most important treasure kept there for centuries - the world-famous miraculous icon of Saint Mary of Kykkos.
AN ICON WITHIN ICONS
THE MIRACULOUS ICON OF ST. MARY OF KYKKOS IN THE BULGARIAN NATIONAL REVIVAL
By Emanuel Moutafov
Page 40
Around the middle of the XVIII century the interest for the miracles, hymns, local cults and miraculous icons of Saint Mary at the Balkans increased. The dependent on the sultan Christian population bettered its position and enhanced its trade contacts, traveled to far destinations more frequently, exchanged ideas and models and visits of the Holy Land were made more often. Gradually the national religious relics became an object of pilgrimage and they started competing for superiority - which of them would be considered more sacred and more famous. Undoubtedly the icon of Saint Mary of Kykkos was among the most famous ones and it was closely connected with the Bulgarian art and everyday life.
SWEET AND BITTER SCENT OF AN ISLAND
By Zdravka Mihaylova
Page 43
Born in British India Lawrence Darrel (1912-1990) is an English novelist, poet, playwright and author of travel notes. In 1935 Darrel managed to convince his family to move to the Greek island Corfu, where they could live more cheaply and run away of the English climate and of the English culture defined by Darrel as:"the English death". After moving again to Greek and Egypt, finally in 1952 he bought a house in Cyprus. On the island Lawrence Darrel worked as a teacher in English. His stay in Cyprus is described in his book "Bitter lemons", awarded with the Duff Cooper literature award in 1957.
SOFIA HADZIPAPA: ANDREI DANIEL INTRODUCED TO US THE SECRETS OF PAINTING
Page 45
Sofia Hadjipapa grew up in a mixed family with her mother Bulgarian and her father Cyprian. In her childhood she spent many summers with her relatives and friends in Bulgaria. This is the reason why she was determined to become a student in Sofia. She did not want to study neither in Europe, nor in America. Her desire was very strong and it was a kind of a longed-for returning home.
Her lecturer at the National Art Academy was Professor Andrei Daniel. He introduced to the students the secrets of painting and directed them to older or contemporary artist who might be their artistic kindred spirits.
THE CULT OF ST. MAMMAS
By Zdravka Evgenieva
Page 47
The most popular saint in Cyprus is Saint George. Immediately after him is Saint Mammas who lived in the middle of III century on the island and became a martyr for his religion during the rule of Emperor Aurelian. After him are named villages in Cyprus and Greece, while the cult of him is spread in Asia, Capadocia, Macedonia and several Greek islands. For around 500 years there has been a church named after Saint Mammas in the village of Luvaras, the province of Limassol. The murals of this church were painted in 1495 by Filipos Gul and they combine the national iconography with the typical for that time Italian Renaissance models.
Every year on September 2nd national festivals and fairs observe the holiday of Saint Mammas.
KRASOHORIA: WINE ROUTES AT THE FOOT OF TROODOS MOUNTAIN
By Zdravka Evgenieva
Page 48
The road to Krasohoria (the region where much wine is produced) winds its way through the south slopes of the Troodos Mountain. This route offers to its visitors all - pretty villages, local products and wayside stops with wine and food tasting.
The wine route passes through twenty villages, where 23 different sorts of vine are grown.
SENSE DELIGHTS - LANDMARKS FOR THE PALATE
By Zdravka Mihaylova
Page 50
More and more become the travel guides which outline the food we can enjoy together with the sightseeing. Almost equal of value to the historical and cultural monuments are the recommended cafes, restaurants and inns. "Financial Times" says that nowadays the travel books offering the "taste" of the country have become more. They offer a more sensitive approach to traveling. By tasting the various typical for Cyprus dishes you can learn a lot about its people, traditions and culture.
FAMOUS PERSONALITIES FROM CYPRUS
Page 53
ZENON OF CITIUM
LEONIDIOS MAHAIRAS
BISHOP MAKARIOS
MICHALIS KAKOYANNIS
MANOS LOIZOS
MARIOS TOKKAS
PHOTOATELIER PRESENTS
CHRISTOS AVRAAMIDES
By Dr. Eleni Nikita
Page 57
LITART PRESENTS
YANIS RITSOS
Page 61
PANDELIS MICHANIKOS
Page 62
NIKI MARANGU
Page 63
MICHALIS PIERIS
Page 64
ATELIER PRESENTS
SILVIA PAVLOVA: EXOTIC WHIFF AND FREEDOM
By Krassi Aleksieva
Page 66
DIMO KOLIBAROV: DETAILS OF THE SUN-DIAL
By Dochka Kisyova-Gogova
Page 68
All translations from Greek in the number except the poem of Michanikos: Zdravka Mihaylova
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Summaries translated by
Maria Angelova |
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