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Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus gained its independence from British rule in 1960. Since 1974 almost 36% of the Republic's territory has been under Turkish occupation.
Executive Power. Presidential system of government. The President is elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term. Executive power is exercised through an 11-member Council of Ministers appointed by the President.
Legislative Power. Multi-party unicameral House of Representatives.
Judicial Power. Justice is administered by the Supreme Court and by the Assize and District Courts.
Independent Officers and Bodies. A number of officers and bodies are independent and do not come under any ministry. The independent officers of the Republic under the Constitution are the Attorney General and the Auditor-General, who head the Law Office and the Audit Office respectively, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus. The Ombudsman is also an independent officer of the Republic whose position, however, was created much later, in 1991. The bodies with independent functions include the Public Service Commission, the Educational Service Commission and the Planning Bureau.
Local Authorities. Local government is the responsibility of the Municipal and Community Councils. The former is concerned with the provision of local government services and administration of the towns and large rural areas, while the latter with the management of village affairs. These councils are independent bodies whose members are elected by universal suffrage.
International Relations. Cyprus is a member of many international organisations including:
The United Nations (UN) (1960) and its specialized agencies
Council of Europe (CoE) (1961)
The Commonwealth (1961)
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (1975)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) (1960)
World Trade Organisation (WTO) (1995)
Relations with the European Union (EU). The Copenhagen European Council, on 12 and 13 December 2002, invited Cyprus, along with other nine candidate states, to accede to the EU as a full member on 1 May 2004, thus adopting the European Commission's recommendations on enlargement of September 2002. The European Parliament gave its assent to Cyprus' EU accession, on 9 April 2003, with 507 votes in favour, 29 against and 26 abstentions.
Location and Area. Cyprus is a small island of 9.251 sq kms (3.572 sq miles), extending 240 Kms (149 miles) from east to west and 100 Kms (62 miles) from north to south. It is strategically situated in the far eastern end of the Mediterranean (33o E, 35o N), at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and Asia, and in close proximity to the busy trade routes linking Europe with the Middle East, Russia, Central Asia and the Far East. Its capital is Nicosia (Lefkosia).
Topography.
Troodos massif (southwest); highest point: Olympos (1.952 m)
Kyrenia (Keryneia) or Pentadaktylos range (north); highest point: Kyparissovounos (1.024 m).
Central plain: Messaoria plain.
There are no perennial rivers, only few springs and streams.
Climate. Mediterranean, with mild, wet winters (mean daily minimum 5o C, 41o F), and hot, dry summers (mean daily maximum 36o C, 97%F).
Flora and Fauna. Seventeen per cent of the island is woodland. The natural vegetation includes forests of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs and flowers. The flora comprises about 1.800 indigenous species, sub-species and varieties. About 140 or 7% of these are endemics. There are also 365 species of birds but only 115 breed on the island. Two species and five sub-species have been classed as endemic. Among the animals the moufflon is the most noteworthy. It belongs to the sheep family and is unique in the world.
Population.
793.100 (end of 2001)
639.500 (80,7%)Greek Cypriots
87.600 (11,0%)Turkish Cypriots
66.000 (8,3%) foreign residents and workers
Population density: 86 persons / sq km.
Official Languages. Greek and Turkish. English is widely spoken
Religion. The Greek Cypriots are Christians and adhere to the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots are Muslims, while the smaller Cypriot minorities of Maronites, Armenians and Latins belong to other Christian denominations.
Cultural Heritage. Neolithic settlements. Classical, Hellenistic and Roman monuments. Byzantine and Latin churches and monasteries. Lusignan and Venetian fortresses and castles (12th - 16th century). Mosques
History. Cyprus' civilisation according to archaeological evidence goes back 9.000 years to the 7th millennium BC (Neolithic or Stone Age). The island acquired its Greek character after it was colonised by the Mycenaean and Achaean Greeks between 2000 and 1000 BC. It subsequently came, in turn, under Assyrian, Egyptian and Persian domination (8th_ 4th century BC). It became part of the Roman Empire between 50 BC and 330 AD. However, it retained its Greek identity and, as part of the Hellenistic state of the Ptolemies (325-50 BC) and of the Greek-speaking world of Byzantium (330 AD-1191), its ethnic heritage was reinforced. The Greek language and culture also prevailed throughout the centuries that followed even though Cyprus came under the rule of successive foreign powers - chiefly the Franks (Lusignans), Venetians, Ottomans and British.
The Greek Cypriots mounted a liberation struggle against British rule from 1955 to 1959 and in 1960 Cyprus gained its independence. Greece, Turkey and Britain were to stand as guarantors of the country's independence under the relevant agreements and Britain would have two sovereign base areas. Power would be shared between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots on a 7:3 ratio. This gave the 18% Turkish Cypriot minority - the descendants of the Ottoman Turks who occupied the island from 1571 to 1878 - 30% representation in the Government and all state institutions. In addition it was granted veto rights.
Relations between the two communities had for centuries been peaceful and amicable. But a conflict of aims after independence - with the Greek Cypriot side determined to preserve the unity of the state and the Turkish Cypriot leadership, at the strong urging of Turkey, seeking partition - led to brief intercommunal clashes in 1963, 1964 and 1967 and the withdrawal in December 1963 of the Turkish Cypriots from the administration and legislature.
Turkish Invasion and Occupation. On 15 July 1974 the ruling military junta of Greece staged a coup to overthrow the democratically elected Government of Cyprus. On 20 July Turkey, in violation of international codes of conduct established under treaties to which it is a signatory, invaded Cyprus, purportedly to restore constitutional order. Instead it seized almost 36% of the territory of Cyprus in the north - an act universally condemned as a gross infringement of international law and the UN Charter. Turkey, only 75 Kms (47 miles) away, had repeatedly claimed for decades before the invasion and frequently afterwards that Cyprus was of vital strategic importance to it and has defied a multitude of UN resolutions demanding the withdrawal of its occupying troops from the island. The invasion and occupation had disastrous consequences. 28 percent of the Greek Cypriot population were driven from their homes and became refugees. A further 20.000 Greek Cypriots enclaved in the occupied area were gradually forced through intimidation and denial of their basic human rights to abandon their homes and find refuge in the Government-controlled area. Today there are about 576 enclaved people. Seventy per cent (70%) of the productive potential of the island was lost and 30% of the population became unemployed.
International Business and Shipping. Cyprus has developed into an international banking and business centre with 30 foreign banks, two administered banking units and over 1.000 fully-fledged overseas companies operating on the island. It has also become an important shipping centre and currently ranks sixth in the world as a maritime nation. The central geographical location of the island, British modelled legal system, availability of wide-ranging professional services, excellent infrastructural facilities, advanced telecommunications network and widespread knowledge of English are some of the factors that have helped create an ideal business environment for foreign firms.
Agriculture. Agriculture contributed about 3,5% to GDP in 2000 and gave employment to 8,3% of the working population. Principal crops are potatoes, other vegetables, cereals, citrus, grapes and olives. Livestock farming is mainly in cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry. Fish production is derived from inshore and trawl fishing and marine aquaculture.
Natural Resources. The island's natural resources are copper, gypsum, timber, marble, bentonite and earth pigment, but none exist in significant quantities. Water is a scarce resource in Cyprus. The problem has been met by the construction of dams and desalination plants.
Environment. The protection of the environment is an essential element in the country's economic and social development policies. Environmental legislation is in full harmonisation with the relevant EU laws and directives.
Health and Social Welfare. Free medical care in government hospitals is available for low-income families, government employees and refugees. There are also 103 private clinics with 1.545 beds and a large number of practices offering a wide range of medical services. The ratio of persons per doctor is 357:1. A comprehensive social insurance scheme covers every working male and female and their dependants. Benefits and pensions from the scheme cover unemployment, sickness, maternity, widows, injury at work, old age and death. There is also a broad range of welfare services provided by the Government, including children's day care centres, old people's homes, facilities for the disabled, free housing for refugees, rent subsidies and financial assistance to community organisations.
Education. Education is compulsory up to the age of 15. Primary and secondary education is free. Cyprus has one university and 34 colleges and institutions of further education. Cyprus ranks high in terms of third level education with 70% of secondary school leavers in 2000 continuing their studies. More than half the students study abroad, mainly in Greece (53%), the UK (23%) and the USA (14%). In 1999/2000, 53% of students studying abroad and 57% enrolled on third level education courses in Cyprus were women.
Culture. Cultural life finds expression through the creative arts. Literature, poetry, concerts, opera, dance, painting and sculpture are some of its manifestations. There are also a number of museums and art galleries.
Media. Freedom of expression and media pluralism are safeguarded by the Constitution and the relevant press and radio and television station laws. Currently there are:
8 dailies and a large number of weeklies and periodicals in circulation.
7 island-wide and 4 local TV channels
9 island-wide and 32 local radio stations.
1 news agency (Cyprus News Agency).
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