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| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short
form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area
refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"
(TRNC) |
| Government
type: |
republic
note:
a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting
the island began following the outbreak of communal strife
in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the
Turkish intervention in July 1974 after a Greek junta-based
coup attempt gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in
the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally
recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot
"President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation
of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), recognized
only by Turkey; both sides publicly support a settlement based
on a federation (Greek Cypriot position) or confederation
(Turkish Cypriot position) |
| Capital: |
Nicosia |
| Administrative
divisions: |
6 districts; Famagusta,
Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish
Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all
but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosia
(Nicosia) and Larnaca |
| Independence: |
16 August 1960 (from
UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13
February 1975 |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day,
1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriot area celebrates 15
November (1983) as Independence Day |
| Constitution: |
16 August 1960;
negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution
to govern the island and to better relations between Greek
and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975
Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing
bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which
was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983;
a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by
referendum on 5 May 1985 |
| Legal
system: |
based on common
law, with civil law modifications |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government;
post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960
constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since
1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government; post of vice president is currently
vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved
for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers
appointed jointly by the president and vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; election last held 16 February 2003 (next
to be held NA February 2008)
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH
has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 13
February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for a five-year
term); elections last held 15 April 2000 (next to be held
NA April 2005); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president
after the other contender withdrew; Mehmet Ali TALAT has been
"prime minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since mid-January
2004; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish
Cypriot area
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS
elected president; percent of vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%,
Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6% |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral - Greek
Cypriot area: House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon
(80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish
Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are
filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic or
Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
election results:
Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS
6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20,
DISY 19, DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; Turkish Cypriot area:
Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - CTP
35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace and Democratic Movement 13.4%, DP
12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP 18, Peace and Democratic
Movement 6, DP 7
elections: Greek Cypriot area:
last held 27 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006); Turkish
Cypriot area: last held 14 December 2003 (next to be held
NA December 2008) |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court (judges
are appointed jointly by the president and vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish
Cypriot area |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Greek Cypriot area:
Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic
Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement
or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George
PERDIKIS]; New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party
of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios
CHRISTOFIAS]; Social Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly
United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK) [Yiannakis OMIROU];
United Democrats Movement or EDE [George VASSILIOU]; Turkish
Cypriot area: Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH]; National
Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity Party or UBP
[Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic
Unity Movement or YBH [Alpay DURDURAN]; Peace and Democratic
Movement [Mustafa AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP
[Mehmet ALI TALAT] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
Confederation of
Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of Revolutionary
Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor
Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist
controlled) |
| International
organization participation: |
Australia Group,
C, CE, EBRD, EU (new member), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES
chancery: 2211
R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202)
483-6710
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot
area in the US is Ahmet ERDENGIZ; office at 1667 K Street
NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198
consulate(s):
New York
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone:
[1] (202) 462-5772 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael KLOSSON
embassy: corner of
Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407 Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia
telephone: [357] (22) 776400
FAX: [357]
(22) 780944 |
| Flag
description: |
white with a copper-colored
silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from
the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches
in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope
for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish
communities
note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has
a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom between which
is a red crescent and red star on a white field |
| Economy
- overview: |
The Greek Cypriot
economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks.
Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's
vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by political
instability in the region and fluctuations in economic conditions
in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused on meeting the
criteria for admission to the EU. EU-driven tax reforms in
2003 have introduced fiscal imbalances, which, coupled with
a sluggish tourism sector, have resulted in growing fiscal
deficits. As in the Turkish sector, water shortages are a
perennial problem; a few desalination plants are now on-line.
After 10 years of drought, the country received substantial
rainfall from 2001-03, alleviating immediate concerns. The
Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly one-third of the per capita
GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey,
it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing and
investment. It remains heavily dependent on agriculture and
government service, which together employ about half of the
work force. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey
provides grants and loans to support economic development.
Ankara provided $200 million in 2002 and pledged $450 million
for the 2003-05 period. Future events throughout the island
will be highly influenced by the outcome of negotiations on
the UN-sponsored agreement to unite the Greek and Turkish
areas. |
| GDP: |
Greek Cypriot area:
purchasing power parity - $8.9 billion (2003 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $1.217 billion (2003
est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
Greek Cypriot area:
1.6% (2003 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 2.6% (2003 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
Greek Cypriot area:
purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2003 est.); Turkish Cypriot
area: purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2003 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
Greek Cypriot
area: agriculture 4.9%; industry 19.9%; services 75.6%
Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 10.6%; industry
20.5%; services 68.9% (2003) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
Greek Cypriot area:
4% (2003 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 12.6% (2003 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
Greek Cypriot area:
306,000; Turkish Cypriot area: 95,025 (2000) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
Greek Cypriot area:
services 75.6%, industry 19.4%, agriculture 4.9% (2003); Turkish
Cypriot area: services 68.9%, industry 20.5%, agriculture
10.6% (2003) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
Greek Cypriot area:
3.4%; Turkish Cypriot area: 5.6% (2003 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
Greek Cypriot area - $4.4 billion, Turkish Cypriot area -
$231.3 million (2002 est.)
expenditures: Greek
Cypriot area - $539 million, including capital expenditures
of $539 million, Turkish Cypriot area - $432.8 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.) |
| Industries: |
food, beverages,
textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products
|
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
Greek Cypriot area:
-1.4% (2002); Turkish Cypriot area: -0.3% (2002) |
| Electricity
- production: |
3.401 billion kWh;
Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
100%
other: 0% (2001)
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
Greek Cypriot area:
3.163 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (2001) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (2001) |
| Oil
- production: |
0 bbl/day (2001
est.) |
| Oil
- consumption: |
49,000 bbl/day (2001
est.) |
| Oil
- exports: |
NA |
| Oil
- imports: |
NA |
| Agriculture
- products: |
potatoes, citrus,
vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables, poultry, pork,
lamb, kids, dairy |
| Exports: |
Greek Cypriot area:
$1.054 billion f.o.b. Turkish Cypriot area: $46 million f.o.b.
(2003 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
Greek Cypriot area:
citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing and cigarettes;
Turkish Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, textiles |
| Exports
- partners: |
UK 26.7%, Greece
6.6%, France 4.9%, Poland 4.3% (2002) |
| Imports: |
Greek Cypriot area:
$4.637 billion f.o.b.; Turkish Cypriot area: $301 million
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
Greek Cypriot area:
consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods,
machinery, transport equipment; Turkish Cypriot area: food,
minerals, chemicals, machinery |
| Imports
- partners: |
Russia 17.1%, Greece
7.1%, Germany 6.6%, France 6.4%, UK 6.3%, Italy 6.3%, South
Korea 5.4%, Japan 5.1% (2002) |
| Debt
- external: |
Greek Cypriot area:
$8 billion; Turkish Cypriot area: $NA (2002) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
Greek Cypriot area
- $17 million (1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $700 million
from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97), which are usually
forgiven (1998) |
| Currency: |
Greek Cypriot area:
Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish lira (TRL)
|
| Currency
code: |
CYP; TRL |
| Exchange
rates: |
Cypriot pounds per
US dollar - 0.52 (2003), 0.61 (2002), 0.64 (2001), 0.62 (2000),
0.54 (1999), Turkish lira per US dollar 1.505 million (2003),
1.507 million (2002), 1,225,590 (2001), 625,218 (2000), 418,783
(1999) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
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