Friendship with Israel bears fruit

ENHANCED diplomatic ties between Cyprus and Israel have brought about an increase in tourism and trade between the two countries.

According to the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) in Tel Aviv, more than 50,000 Israelis visited Cyprus last year, a 20,000 rise on 1995, when the Tel Aviv CTO office first opened.

CTO Tel Aviv director Louisa Varaclas puts this down to Cyprus’ “good image” amongst Israelis who are undeterred by the island’s political situation.

She said although Cyprus was more expensive than other nearby destinations, Israelis in the higher income brackets did not mind paying more to come here.

In addition, 1996 saw a £15 million increase in Cyprus’ trade with Israel, a result of the 1994 trade agreement between the two countries, according to Cypriot Commercial Attaché in Israel Eleni Pitsillides.

Pitsillides said the agreement had seen exchange visits by businessmen and officials, and had contributed greatly to the 35 per cent increase in trade.

Cyprus exports animal produce, gypsum, fruit juice, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, plastics, plastic products and paper to Israel.

Products imported from Israel include petroleum oils, chemicals, machinery and plastics. Last year’s Israeli imports cost Cyprus £31 million.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.