Cyprus aims at generating 10 MW of energy from solar power for 2011-2012, Commerce Ministry energy official Ioannis Chrysis said.

Speaking to CNA, Chrysis said the ministry seeks increase energy generation from solar systems at 10 Megawatts from the current production of 7MW.

While the target for the period of 2013-2014 is set at 25MW.

He added that Cyprus aims to drastically increase energy generation from its solar network to 192 MW by 2020.

Concerning the applications for the ministry`s scheme for utulising renewable energy sources, Chrysis said 51 applications have been submitted for the installation of solar systems with a capacity raging from 21 to 150 Kilowatts.

Chrysis added that the applications received by the ministry concern solar systems of 6.5 MW.

Furthermore, he said that one application for the construction of a wind park of total capacity of 6MW in the area of Mari, Limassol, was received, while total capacity of licensed wind parks reached 157MW.

He also said the installation of wind turbines in two of the three wind parks in Larnaca has begun.

International firms have shown interest in investing in renewable energy in Cyprus, preferring mainly solar system.

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Scores of couples from Israel held a mass civil – wedding ceremony in Larnaca in an attempt to set the world record for the largest matrimonial event in a single day.

According to the Israeli and Cypriot organisers, the record they were hoping to beat stands at 163, but just fell short of the mark at 154.

Less than the expected 170 mainly Russian – speaking couples from Israel attended the mass ceremony on Larnaca`s Mediterranean shore.

“We were told by Guinness that the most couples who got married in a civil ceremony inside 24 hours was 163. We were aiming for 170, but we have fewer than that, but we will be back to break the record for sure,” said Israeli organiser Natan Uretsky.

Uretsky has been bringing Israeli couples to nearby Cyprus for more than 20 years and said the birthplace of Aphrodite – the goddess of love – is the main destination for Israelis who want to get hitched without the fuss of a religious wedding.

It is estimated that 1,000 civil marriages involving Israelis take place on Cyprus each year, with many couples comping to the island because they are unable to have a religious ceremony at home.

Larnaca municipality was keen to promote and support the record attempt, held outside the resort town`s Mediaeval fort.

Larnaca Mayor Andreas Moyseos addressed the gathering, which was officiated in English and Russian, ending with the words: “Always be happy”.

“You have definitely made the right choice.” Larnaca Tourism Board Chairman Dinos Lefkaritis told the couples neatly lined up in rows facing the sea.

“Cyprus is the ideal location to get married as it is considered to be the mythological island of love.”

Among the rows of smiling, kissing couples enjoying a balmy evening while attempting to make history, the youngest bride was 17-and-a-half while the oldest groom was 84.

Israeli couple Aviram and Hila said they came to Cyprus because they didn`t want a religious ceremony with a rabbut wanted to be part of a crowd.

“I did not want the spotlight just to fall on me, so we decided to take part,” said 30-year-old Hila from Elat. Her diving-instructor husband Aviram Avigal agreed it was `great` to be part of something special.

Russian-born partners Vladimir Levchin, 30, and Natalie, 34, said they participated partly because they couldn`t get married in Israel because they were a mixed-faith couple.

Religious authorities in Israel don`t perform interfaith weddings, although the country recognises civil weddings conducted abroad.

But Natalie, a nurse, enjoyed “being part of something historic and unique.”

Hundreds of lovers, relatives and friends had arrived at Larnaca port by cruise ship from Haifa and, after treating themselves to champagne and some traditional Cypriot hospitality: it was back on the boat for a trip to Limassol.

“We`re going back on the boat to party and then it`s back to Israel,” said Uretsky.

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There has been a slight drop in the number and gross tonnage of ships on the Cyprus shipping register during the first quarter of 2011 compared to last year, latest figures show.

Data from the Department of Merchant Shipping (DMS) put the number of registered ships at the end of March 2011 at 1,848 – 14 less than at the end of 2010.

DMS director Sergios Serghiou said that during tha past years, the Cyprus register remains more or less the same as regards the number of ships.

Serghiou stressed that Turkey`s embargo on vessels flying the Cyprus flag continues to be the most serious problem hindering the further development of Cyprus shipping.

“Under different circumstances, the dynamic of the Cyprus register would have been much different.

“Foreign companies established in Cyprus are otherwise fully satisfied with the benefits they enjoy in terms of costs and services,” he said.

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Cyprus Airways considers its two new destinations-Tehran and Erbil, north Iraq- as `very promising`, the national carrier`s spokesman told .

“European destinations are very competitive. Tehran is very promising and there is demand.

`As for Erbil, there are lots of migrants from those areas and again there is demand,” Kyriacos Kyriacou said.

CA will be flying to Erbil once a week as from July 4 and twice weekly to Tehran from July 7.

The first flour flights to Erbil will be chareted, followed by scheduled ones.

The first 25 Tehran flights will also be charetered and will then be followed by scheduled ones.

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A significant increase in tourist arrivals for the first five months was aided by an influx of holidaymakers from Britain and Russia signalling a bumper Cyprus summer to come.

Holidaymakers arriving during the first five months ending in May increased 11.7% to 672,951 from 602,678 in the same period last year.

In May, the number of arrivals climbed 3.7% to 267,487 against 258,014 for the same month in 2010.

This rise was triggered by a sizeable 47.4% spike last month in tourists from Russia (40,772) – making it the island`s second largest holiday market.

Furthermore, May also saw a 14.2% increase in tourists from Greece reaching 12,016 and 31.7% boost from Finland (5,896).

Over the five months the inflow of Russian and French tourists has improved 53.4% and 37.3% respectively.

But arrivals from the island`s biggest market Britain are slightly down by 1.2% on 2010 (272.848).

Arrivals recovered in 2010 to reach 2.17 million, up from 2.14 million in 2009.German

In 2010, the number of Russians rose 50% to 223.861, making Russia the island`s seconf-largest market behind Britain (996,046), whence arrivals fell 6.8%.

A 6.1% increase to 139.190 German visitors made their homeland Cyprus`s third most important country of tourists` origin.

In 2009, arrivals plunged 10.9% to 2.14 million, the lowest level since 1997.

Compared to the first five months of 2008 tourism arrivals are still down by 1.4%.

The number of holidaymakers to Cyprus hit a high of 2.69 million in 2001, spending a record 2.17 euro b.

Income from tourism accounts for nearly 12% of Cyprus`s gross domestic product.

Officials are confident that tourism arrivals for 2011 should improve by 10% in last year.

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