On the picture the Ambassador of Cuba H. E. Soraya Alvarez Nunez, H.E. Haifa Aissami Madah, Ambassador of Venezuela to the International Organizations, Nicos Argyrides, Second Secretary Embassy of Cyprus and H.E. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Abohaimed, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia.
By Catherine Dailey.
Some three hundred members of the International Women’s Contact (IWC) of The Hague turned out early on Monday, November 13, for a special “Country Morning” event hosted by the Embassy of Cyprus at The Hague Marriott Hotel. Mr. Nicos Argyrides, Second Secretary of the Republic of Cyprus, presented the program on behalf of Ambassador Elpidoforos Economou. The Ambassadors of Austria, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela were among the many distinguished guests invited by the embassy to enjoy the “Country Morning” program which included a short film produced by the Ministry of Tourism; followed by a cultural presentation given by Prof. Dr. Marina Tekourafi, Professor of Sociolinguistics at Leiden University.
The President of the IWC, Mrs. Rieke Lubach, opened the event. The large and attentive audience were delighted to learn that IWC board members are planning a custom “members only” tour to Cyprus in 2018. Following a short introduction, the president introduced Mr. Argyrides, who shared key facts about his island nation which can be easily reviewed via a link on the homepage of the embassy website.
Argyrides explained the origin of the country’s name, which is believed to have derived from the Classical Latin phrase aes Cyprium, “metal of Cyprus” and which was later shortened to Cuprum. He also described the symbolism of the nation’s flag with its distinctive yellow copper color for the outline of an island map centered above a pair of green olive branches, against a white background. The white and copper colors, together with the green olive branches, serves as a proud reminder of the republic’s history, commitment to peace and strategic importance as a crossroad of civilizations since the Homeric Age.
The Second Secretary further explained that the Republic of Cyprus, with a population of approximately 956,500 citizens, is a unique country of threes–the third smallest country in the European Union, the third most populated island, and the third largest island in the Mediterranean. In addition, the island nation, which joined the European Union on May 1, 2004, has been influenced for millennia by European, Asian and African peoples due to the country’s proximity to all three continents. Cyprus, he explained, has six main cities and Nicosia, with a population of 244,100, is the capital. It is the last divided capital in Europe.
Professor Marina Terkourafi presented the second part of the program and captivated listeners with her cultural and historic survey of Cyprus by focussing on four women beginning with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and fertility. Dr. Terkourafi followed by saying a few words about St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. She (St. Helena) is remembered for her discovery of the “True Cross” and is also given credit for ridding the island of snakes and other vermin by arranging for 1,000 cats from Persia and Egypt to be shipped to the island and transported to the Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas of the Cats in Akrotiri.
Brief homage was given to Catherine Cornaro (1454-1510), a noble Venetian woman and last Queen of Cyprus before the professor concluded her presentation by citing a few words about Nicosia from the varied oeuvre of Niki Marangou (1948-2013), the renowned Cypriot poet, writer and artist.
Aphrodite, according to ancient Greek myths, rose form the sea and washed ashore in seafoam at Paphos. The cult of Aphrodite at Paphos was mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey (675-725 BCE) and the Paphos Archeological Park in Kato Paphos, inhabited since the Neolithic period, is, one of three Cypriot sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. An additional eleven sites are on UNESCO’s tentative list. Today, Paphos, on the island’s southwest coast, is a modern city of glistening harbors, theaters and resort hotels. The city welcomes international visitors throughout the year who come to enjoy both the temperate Mediterranean climate and warm Cypriot hospitality.
Explorers, unable to visit the Classical World in the Mediterranean, are encouraged to travel to the Greek Hall of the permanent Klassieke Wereld exhibition in Leiden’s Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (National Musuem of Antiquities), where top pieces, including a recent acquisition of a Cypriot portrait sculpture dating from approximately 470-460 BCE, can be admired.
The introduction to Cypriot cuisine, served to close the program, included Koupepia (stuffed vine leaves), Koupes, Halloumi Cheese in pita wraps and olives. Guests especially enjoyed an opportunity to sample Commandaria—reputed to be the oldest wine in the world which was first known as Nama by the ancient Greeks. Following Richard the Lionhearted’s conquest of the island in 1191, the legendary Commandaria, was produced for the first time in the commanderies of the Knights of St. John, who gave it the name which is still used today. Wine connoisseurs will especially enjoy consulting the extensive Cyprus Wine Routes, travel guide published by the Cyprus Tourism Organization (CTO) for planning a unique holiday through any of Cyprus’ seven wine routes.
International tourism revenue, a key contributor to the island’s service based economy, continues to expand with each successive year. By the close of this year, more than 3.6 million visitors are expected have visited Cyprus in 2017 or more than 3.5 visitors per citizen!
Religious tourists, especially Christians, will enjoy a visit to the Stavrovouni Monastery, founded by St. Helena. It is the earliest documented monastery on the island and one of the oldest monasteries in the world. Empress Helena, was perhaps the world’s first notable religious tourist and, according to church tradition, accidentally brought a piece of the Holy Cross to the island following a shipwreck while returning from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Having arrived safely, she commissioned a chapel to be built on the mountain of the same name to house it. Several other ancient Cypriot monasteries, popular with tourists, are either already listed or inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
While sampling the Commandaria, Koupes and Koupepia, many happy guests could be overheard discussing their keen interest in planning a trip to sunny Cyprus, thus ensuring that the number of visitors to Cyprus in 2018 will continue to grow, as projected, with a new group of “Country Morning” travelers from The Hague!
Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus
Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (Dutch National Museum of Antiquities)
Cyprus Wine Routes – Cyprus Tourism Organization
“Cyprus In Your Heart” -The Official Cyprus Tourism Portal
Cyprus on Film – Press and Information Office, Republic of Cyprus
