CYPRUS COMMUNICATIONS

OVERVIEW

Cyprus, because of its key position in the Mediterranean sea, has become a center of the international air communications. Very important is also the role of the ports of Limassol, Larnaka and Famagusta(this port, as well as the town are under Turkish occupation) for the international trade.The land(road) transportation is very well organized. The majority of the roads were constructed to lead to Nicosia, which is the capital of the island. The different roads and highways are in a pretty good condition to offer excellent communication to the travelers between the various towns and villages.The transportation in the towns or villages can be obtained by buses, taxis(cubs), and private vehicles. There is no railway or train transportation.

Highways:

10,780 km total; 5,170 km paved; 5,610 km gravel, crushed stone, and earth.
Motor vehicles: 412.944 (Total number circulating in free Cyprus at the end of 1993). Car ownership is one of highest in the world.

Ports

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaka, Limassol, Paphos
The ports of Famagusta and Kyrenia are under the the control of the Turkish Occupied forces since 1974, and thus are not used by any means.

Merchant marine

1,299 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,045,037 GRT/37,119,933 DWT; includes 10 short-sea passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 463 cargo, 77 refrigerated cargo, 24 roll-on/roll-off, 70 container, 4 multifunction large load carrier, 110 oil tanker, 3 specialized tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 26 chemical tanker, 32 combination ore/oil, 422 bulk, 3 vehicle carrier, 48 combination bulk, 1 railcar carrier, 2 passenger; note - a flag of convenience registry; Cuba owns 27 of these ships, Russia owns 36, Latvia also has 7 ships, Croatia owns 2, and Romania 5

Telecommunications:

Excellent, 210,000 telephones and still growing;largely open-wire and microwave radio relay; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 8 FM, 1 (34 repeaters). International service by tropospheric scatter, 3 submarine cables, and satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and EUTELSAT earth stations

Today, Cyprus has a very advanced telecommunications system and is connected via satellite to most countries in the world. (Ninety-nine percent of the outgoing telephone traffic can be accessed automatically from Cyprus, while the rest of the world can be reached through the operator). Telex and telegraph service is provided to virtually every country in the world, while telefax, audiotex and video-conferencing connection is available to those countries that have introduced the service. Currently the number of direct exchange lines per 100 of population is approximately 52 and that number is expected to reach 65 by 1997.

Transportation

Larnaka International and Paphos International Airports, and the ports of Limassol, Larnaka, and Paphos are the only legal ports of entry and exit to the Republic of Cyprus. Ships carrying cargo and passengers call regularly at Larnaka and Limassol, the principal southern ports.

Important Note

Travelers arriving in the Republic of Cyprus may enter the Republic only through the legal ports of entry: Larnaka and Pafos International Airports, or the ports of Larnaka, Limassol and Pafos. The ports of Famagusta Kyrenia and Karavostasi, as well as the airports in the part of the Republic illegally occupied by the Turkish invasion forces have been declared by the Government as prohibited ports of entry and exit, and no passenger should enter or leave the Republic from these ports.

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