ABSTRACT
Strategically located in the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus has frequently been described as lying at the crossroads of three continents. As a result, the island has, throughout its history, succumbed to a succession of foreign powers. The Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Arabs, Venetians, Ottomans and, latterly, the British were all former rulers of Cyprus, each contributing to the country’s now rich and diverse cultural heritage. However, since 1960 when, for the first time, the island became independent, it has evolved rapidly into an economically and socially developed nation. In terms of per capita GDP, for example, it is now the third wealthiest Mediterranean country after France and Italy (PIO 2001) whilst, according to other typical development indicators, such as access to health care, life expectancy, infant mortality rates, literacy, and educational attainment, Cyprus is classed amongst those countries which enjoy ‘high human development’. Indeed, in 1999 the island ranked 25th on the UNDP’s Human Development Index, above countries such as Portugal, Singapore and Malta (Sharpley 2003). More significantly, perhaps, with accession to the EU in May 2004, Cyprus has finally escaped its past by joining the European family as an equal to the European powers that once dominated the region.
