Archive for month: Ιούλιος, 2020
About Cyprus
Capital city: Nicosia
Total area: 9 250 km²
Population: 1.141.166
Currency: Member of the eurozone since 2008 (€)
Cyprus is the largest island in the eastern Mediterranean and is situated south of Turkey. The two main mountain ranges are the Pentadactylos in the north and the Troodos in central and south-western part of the island. Between them is the fertile plain of Messaoria.
Cyprus has long been a crossing point between Europe, Asia and Africa and still has many traces of successive civilisations – Roman theatres and villas, Byzantine churches and monasteries, Crusader castles, Ottoman mosques and pre-historic habitats.
The island’s main economic activities are tourism, clothing and craft exports and merchant shipping. Traditional crafts include embroidery, pottery and copperwork.
Traditional local dishes include the meze – a selection of appetizers served as a main dish, halloumi/hellim cheese and the zivania schnapps.
The Republic of Cyprus gained its independence from Britain in 1960. Three years later, inter-communal violence between Turkish and Greek Cypriots broke out. Since 1974 the island is de facto divided after a coup d’état supported by the military junta in Greece against the Cypriot President Makarios and the subsequent intervention of the Turkish army. Despite numerous efforts to reunify the country, it remains divided to this day.
Cyprus is well known as the island of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, who, according to legend, was born here.
In modern literature, names such as Costas Montis (poet and writer) and Demetris Gotsis (writer) stand out, while Evagoras Karageorgis and Marios Tokas are well known for their musical compositions.
What is IPA Cyprus ?
The Cyprus IPA Section was founded in March 1982
The Cyprus IPA Section was founded in March 1982 by Michael Odysseos, who, at that time, was the permanent Secretary of the Police Trade Union. The first members were registered as Foreign Associate Members with the Hellenic Section.In September 1982 the Founding Meeting was held in Limassol and the National Statutes were adopted. The meeting was attended by delegates from the six regions (Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos,Famagusta and Morphou). A Founding Committee consisting of 9 members was elected. Michael Pahitis and Michael Odysseos were elected National President and Secretary General respectively. The same year, with the support of Greece and Austria who acted as Sponsor Sections, the PEB accepted the application of the Founding Committee and Cyprus was given a Section in Foundation status.
On 14 September 1983, at the 19th IEC Conference in Antwerp, Belgium, the Cyprus Section was unanimously affiliated in the IPA family. The Delegate of the Cyprus Section received from the International President, Juergen Klfss, the Certificate of Affiliation.
Today the Cyprus Section, with 3605 members, is very active and participates actively in all IPA functions. The present President of the Cyprus Section, Michael Odysseos, has been elected for three consecutive terms as the International President of the Association.
According to the National Statutes, members of the Cyprus Section could be:
(a) Serving police officers
(b) Retired police officers
(c) Special constables who are paid from the police budget
(d) Civilians working with the police
(e) Widow(er)s of police officers
