a) Science and Technology in Archaeology Research Centre(S.T.A.R.C.)
The establishment of S.T.A.R.C. in Paphos, is undoubtedly a great success of a strategic importance, since the Centre sets the district on the map of international scientific research and modern technology. The Cyprus Institute, the Municipality of Paphos and the Municipality of Yeroskipou have cooperated for the Centre’s establishment and development. The Establishment Agreement and the Cooperation Memorandum were signed between the parties on 23 June 2007 at a special ceremony held at the forecourt of the “House of the District Officer”. The establishment of S.T.A.R.C. is a part of the Cyprus Institute’s plans for the creation of seven Research centres, which serve the three fold purpose of research-education-economy. The Centre shall promote research, development and application of the use of modern scientific and technological techniques in Archaeology, as well as preserve and promote our cultural heritage. According to the Cooperation Memorandum, the S.T.A.R.C. Administration Department shall be located at the “House of the District Officer”, which shall be preserved-renovated through a special project, while the laboratories shall be constructed in the area of Anavargos.
A small infrastructure shall also be created at the port of Paphos for the preservation of the equipment for marine research, while the “Germanina Farmhouse” in Yermasogia shall be used for the operation of Summer Schools. The parties shall finance the survey for the building infrastructure and viability of the project and the necessary funds shall be requested from European Programs and grants from the private and government sectors.
Summer Schools began operating in summer 2008 at temporary education grounds, while the 40 first students were housed at tourist accommodations.

b) Twinned Cities – International Networks
In the current year, the Municipality of Paphos strengthened its relations with the twinned cities and broadened its collaboration with Municipalities and Organisations from overseas.
A novelty in this field is the active participation of the citizens in the Municipality’s international relations in the form of organised visits exchange (a group of elderly citizens visited Anzio and a group of elderly from Anzio visited Paphos) and organising mutual educational and entertaining events.
Collectively, the main activities are as follows:
-Strengthening the relations between Paphos and its twinned cities in Greece via visit exchange, organising mutual events, children’s camps and promoting the collaboration between youth societies, cultural authorities and artistic groups.
-Broadening activities with the twinned Municipality of Anzio, Italy through the exchange of visits by the citizens and elected members. The course of twinning from 2004 until this day is highly successful and productive.
- Strengthening the relations between Paphos and the Municipality of Shefton England in order to create mutual initiatives in the fields of Youth and Tourism.
-Participation in the “Aphrodite” International Thematic Network created with the initiative of the Municipality of Yeroskipou and promotion of a small feature film (documentary) for the history, archaeology and modernity of Paphos.
-Participation in the founding Conference for the “Mediterranean Fortified Cities” Network, which was held by the initiative of Calgary, Italy.
-Development of close relations and provision of aid and assistance to the international excavating missions in Paphos (Universities of Warsaw, Catagna and Sydney).
-Organisation of a seminar for the Cyprus matter in Paphos in the framework of the Paphos-Twinned Greek Cities Network, in the presence of the Greek and Cypriot Ministers of the Exterior, Ms Dora Bakoyiannis and Mr Marcos Kyprianou respectively.
-Paphos and Anzio student exchange in the context of twinning the cities.
-The exchange of students from Paphos Public Music School with Sefton Music School students and organising mutual events-concerts in the two cities.
-Housing students and their chaperones from the Municipality of Kalamaria in Paphos and housind students from Paphos to Halkidiki, in the context of Summer Camps.
-Meeting of officers of the Municipalities of Paphos and Hania, in Hania, to organise and prepare the twinning of the two cities. The Mayor shall visit Hania on December 1st to attend the functions of the Union of Crete with Greece.
-Visit of the Mayor of Tegea to Paphos for the signing of a Cooperation Memorandum between the two historical cities on October 28th, 2008 and the same visit of representatives from Paphos to Tegea.
-A visit of representatives from the Municipality of Paphos to Sofia and signing of a Cooperation Memorandum between the two cities.
-Events in Paphos on December 5th, 2008 for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture, the European Parliament’s office in Cyprus, the representatives of the European Committee in Cyprus and the Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus.
-For Christmas 2008, the Philharmonic orchestra of the Municipality of Paphos is programmed to visit and stay in Anzio, Italy.
-Maintaining and developing actions in the frameworks of the International Networks and Organisations the Municipality is taking part in.