Christofias touts the importance of cultural heritage

THE CYPRUS Republic may be celebrating only 50 years of existence but the island’s heritage dates back at least ten thousand years, President Demetris Christofias said yesterday.

Christofias was addressing the Annual Ranieri Colloquium on Ancient Studies “Archaeologies of Yeronisos off Cyprus: The island beyond the island”, in New York, organised in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the 20th anniversary of the New York University Yeronisos Island Excavations.

“A country’s history and cultural heritage is without doubt one of the most important factors that shape its relations with the outside world, but also its internal development,” said Christofias.

“Cultural events such as this colloquium and also the upcoming exhibition at the Natural History Museum of the Smithsonian Institution entitled “Cyprus: Crossroads of Civilisations” demonstrate the importance of cultural exchanges and the sharing of knowledge.”

Christofias said Cyprus currently hosts more than thirty foreign archaeological missions, which are all active. A large percentage of those come from the US, he said.

Also important, he said, was the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed by the two countries in 2002, amended in 2006 and renewed in 2007.

“The Memorandum imposes import restrictions on Cypriot archaeological objects and greatly contributes towards the protection of cultural heritage and the fighting of illicit trade in antiquities,” said Christofias.

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.