Nicosia - Regione Lazio of Italy awarded this year's ''Il Lazio tra Europa e Mediterraneo'' international prize for Poetry to Cypriot professor and poet Michalis Pieris, during a ceremony at ''Complesso del Vittoriano'' in Rome, in acknowledgement of his cultural and social action.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pieris referred to the rich cultural heritage of Cyprus, the island's history and its political problem.

He said Cyprus' tradition in poetry follows the cultural routes of the Mediterranean.

This is the first time the prize has been awarded to a Cypriot. So far, the prize has been awarded to writers, scientists, politicians, artists and persons with charity and social action from fifteen countries.