Republic of

Topography: The , in the area; comprising 2.2 per cent of the total In 1974 Turkish troops invaded and central and western part of the island, rise to network. Cyprus has no railway. occupied the northern 36 per cent of the 1,951 metres at Mount Olympus. The Republic of Cyprus. This area was later Major ports are at and . Troodos, of infertile igneous rock, are declared independent. The secession has characterised by steep slopes, narrow valleys airport was closed in 1974. There are not been recognised internationally, and precipices. The Mountains (also international airports 5 km south of Larnaca, except by . The UN and known as the Pentadaktylos range), along the and 15 km east of . Commonwealth have for many years north coast, rise to 1,024 metres and are protested about the occupation and tried mainly limestone. Passes and valleys allow to resolve the problem by negotiation. Society access to the north coast. The fertile KEY FACTS 2013 Due to this division of the Republic of Messaoria Plain lies between them. About Cyprus, aggregated information is not half of its 186,000 hectares is irrigated. Most Population per sq km: 123 always available. Economic and social data water sources are in the south – all major Life expectancy: 80 years given here generally cover the government- rivers originate in the Troodos and flow east, Net primary enrolment: 98% controlled areas only, although legally and south or west. Many rivers dry up in the constitutionally the Republic of Cyprus summer. There are sandy beaches on the Population: 1,141,000 (2013); 67 per cent includes the occupied north. south of the island and some rugged rocky of people live in urban areas; growth 1.7 per coastline in the north. cent p.a. 1990–2013; birth rate 11 per 1,000 people (19 in 1970); life expectancy 80 years Climate: Mediterranean climate. Hot dry (71 in 1970). summers (June–September) and mild wet winters (November–March). The population comprises (approximately 80 per cent) and Turkish Environment: The most significant Cypriots, and small populations of environmental issues are limited water Armenians, Maronites and ‘Latins’ (the term resources – due to lack of rain in the summer used in Cyprus for Roman Catholics of and pollution of the island’s largest aquifer by European origin). The population of the sea water; water pollution by sewage and occupied north was estimated at 257,000 in industrial wastes; coastal degradation; and 2005, and included around 160,000 Turkish loss of wildlife habitats due to urbanisation. illegal settlers. Vegetation: Mediterranean scrub, succulents Language: Official languages are Greek and and pine woods, adapted to the dry Turkish. English is widely spoken; German summers, with 1,800 species and subspecies and French are spoken in tourist centres. of flowering plants. Forest covers 19 per cent KEY FACTS of the land area. The mountains are forested Religion: Most Greek Cypriots belong to the and less than 15 per cent of the land is autocephalous Cypriot Orthodox Church; Joined Commonwealth: 1961 arable and permanently cropped, about 20 most are Sunni Muslims. Population: 1,141,000 (2013) per cent of which is irrigated. The occupied There are small religious groups of Maronites, GDP p.c. growth: 0.9% p.a. 1990–2013 north is generally more thickly vegetated and Armenians, Roman Catholics and Anglicans. fertile. UN HDI 2014: World ranking 32 Health: Public spending on health was three Wildlife: The only large wild animal is the per cent of GDP in 2012. In the Republic, Official languages: Greek, Turkish agrino, a species of wild sheep, which is now medical care is free for government Time: GMT plus 2–3 hrs protected. Snakes, once so abundant as to employees, displaced persons and low- give the island its old name Ophiussa (‘abode income families, including in all about 65 per Currency: Euro ( €) of snakes’), are now comparatively rare. cent of the population. The government has proposed a national health insurance scheme. Main towns: Nicosia (Lefkosia, capital, pop. Geography A new general hospital was built in Nicosia in 334,120 in 2011, with a further 61,378 in the latter 1990s. Infant mortality was three Area: 9,251 sq km the occupied north), Limassol (239,739), per 1,000 live births in 2013 (30 in 1960). Coastline: 648 km Paphos (91,200), Larnaca (53,500). In the occupied north, other main towns are The Government of Cyprus offers free Capital: Nicosia (40,920), Kyrenia (33,207), treatment in government hospitals to all Cyprus is an oval-shaped island with ‘pan- and . Turkish Cypriots residing in the occupied north. handle’ north-east peninsula in the eastern Transport: There is a good road network in Mediterranean. Its closest mainland the Republic, extending to 20,000 km (40 per Education: Public spending on education neighbours are Turkey (to the north) and cent paved), with motorways between was seven per cent of GDP in 2010. There Syria and (to the east). Nicosia, Limassol, Paphos and the Famagusta are nine years of compulsory education

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Republic of Cyprus

starting at the age of six. Primary school December). Fixed-date holidays falling on a GDP by sector (2013) comprises six years and secondary six, with Saturday or Sunday are not moved. two cycles each of three years. There are Religious and other festivals whose dates vary many private schools. Some 95 per cent of Agriculture from year to year include Green Monday pupils complete primary school (2007). The 2.7% (start of Lent, 50 days before Greek Orthodox school year starts in September. Easter), Good Friday (Greek Orthodox), Easter Industry 12.8% The University of Cyprus is a bilingual (Greek Monday (Greek Orthodox) and Kataklysmos and Turkish) university which opened in (Pentecost, 50 days after Greek Orthodox Services 1992. The other public universities are Cyprus Easter). 84.5% University of Technology (2007) and Open University of Cyprus (2002). Private Economy From the latter 1990s, the government universities include the European University introduced economic reforms with a view to (In this section, figures do not include the Cyprus (2007), which developed out of joining the European Union (EU). The occupied north.) Cyprus College (1961); Frederick University economy continued to grow strongly, until it (2007), which developed out of the Frederick KEY FACTS 2013 slowed in the tougher international climate Institute of Technology (1965); Neapolis GNI: US$21.5bn after 2000, picking up again from 2004, the University (Paphos, 2010); and University of year in which the Republic of Cyprus joined Nicosia (2007), which developed out of GNI p.c.: US$25,210 the EU, and continuing at about four per Intercollege (1980). Other tertiary institutions GDP growth: -1.6% p.a. 2009–13 cent until 2008, when the impact of the include Cyprus Forestry College (1951); Inflation: 1.6% p.a. 2009–13 world economic downturn on tourism and Higher Hotel Institute of Cyprus (1966); trade caused growth to stall in the latter part Higher Technical Institute (1968); Despite occupation of the north and the of that year and go into reverse in 2009 ( –1.7 Mediterranean Institute of Management consequent forced movement of population per cent). There was then a return to growth (1976, postgraduate); Nursing School; and and loss of resources, the economy of the in 2010–11 before the economy moved into Cyprus International Institute of Management Republic has grown steadily with relatively recession again in 2012 ( –2.4 per cent), (1990). The female–male ratio for gross low inflation, particularly in the tourism and contracting sharply in 2013 (by 5.4 per cent) enrolment in tertiary education is 0.90:1 offshore financial services sectors, while the and 2014 (by about three per cent). (2010). There is virtually no illiteracy among agriculture sector and exports of citrus fruits people aged 15–24. and potatoes became relatively less Cyprus adopted the euro at the beginning of important. Oil and gas exploration was under 2008, replacing the Cyprus pound. In March In 1984 Cyprus hosted the Ninth Conference way in 2011 and large offshore finds of 2013 the EU and International Monetary of Commonwealth Education Ministers in natural gas were announced in December Fund (IMF) offered Cyprus a €10 billion loan Nicosia. Commonwealth Education Ministers 2011, amounting to an estimated 140–230 to rescue the Cypriot banks, which had meet every three years to discuss issues of billion cubic metres, and further significant incurred heavy losses arising from a very large mutual concern and interest. finds were announced in 2012. exposure to Greek debt. This deal required Media: There are several daily papers, most the government to raise a further €5.8 in Greek (including Phileleftheros , Politis , Real growth in GDP billion. Parliament then voted against the Simerini ) but the Cyprus Mail is in English. Of government’s initial proposals for a levy on all % 2 the several bi-weekly, weekly and fortnightly % the banks’ customers. The banks remained papers, two ( Cyprus Weekly and Financial 1 closed while discussions continued between Mirror ) are in English. 0 the government, EU and IMF. A deal was agreed on 24 March 2013, under which the The public radio and TV provider is the -1 Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, banks were to be restructured; the levy paid -2 g broadcasting in Greek, English, Turkish and only by custo mers w ith deposits of at least -3 100,000; an d Cyp rus was to remain in the Armenian. Private radio and TV stations € compete with the public networks. The -4 eurozone. switch from analogue to digital TV was -5 completed in July 2011. -6 History 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 There are 627 personal computers per 1,000 The civilisation of Cyprus, recorded through people (2012). archaeological finds, myths and later written Communications: Country code 357; Inflation history, can be traced through 9,000 years. The island, perfectly placed as a strategic internet domain ‘.cy’. Mobile phone coverage % 3.5 base for the great civilisations of the Near- is good. 3.0 Eastern ancient world, has been much fought For every 1,000 people there are 306 2.5 over. It was subject to the empires of Assyria, landlines, 952 mobile phone subscriptions 2.0 , Persia, Macedonia and Rome in the and 655 internet users (2013). BCE period. Its population has been 1.5 Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Epiphany (6 predominantly ethnically Greek since then. 1.0 January), Greek Independence Day (25 After the collapse of the in March), EOKA Day (1 April), Labour Day (1 0.5 the fourth century, it was ruled by Byzantium, May), Assumption (15 August), Independence 0.0 the Franks, the Venetians and the Ottoman Day (1 October), Ochi Day (28 October), Turks. It was during the Ottoman period that -0.5 Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day (26 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 the ancestors of the Turkish Cypriots settled

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on the island. Through these rich and varied 180,000 Greek Cypriots fled from their The first round of the presidential elections in influences, Cyprus acquired a great homes in the north, and came south as February 1998 was inconclusive. President archaeological legacy. refugees; 45,000 Turkish Cypriots were Clerides narrowly won the second-round In 1878 Britain concluded an alliance with similarly uprooted. contest with George Iacovou with 51 per the Sultan on Cyprus, and gained effective Intercommunal talks under UN auspices cent of the votes. Clerides then formed a control. When Turkey sided with Germany in began in 1975. In November 1983, the broadly based coalition administration, to World War I, Britain annexed the island. In Turkish Cypriot assembly in the north, under prepare for further negotiations with the 1925, Cyprus became a Crown colony. the leadership of Rauf Denktash, voted for Turkish Cypriots and the accession talks with the EU. From the 1930s, Greek Cypriots campaigned independence and in 1985 approved a new for enosis (union with ), a movement constitution. Independence has subsequently Talks with the Turkish Cypriots continued that came to be led in the 1950s by been recognised solely by Turkey, but during 1999 and 2000, but progress Archbishop Makarios. The UK proposed condemned by the UN Security Council and remained stalled because the parties were instead (in 1948, 1954 and 1955) various other international organisations. unable to agree on future constitutional forms of internal self-government, all of The 1988 presidential election in the Republic arrangements. While the Greek Cypriots, with which were deemed unacceptable by the brought to power , on a the support of the international community, Greek Cypriot Ethnarchy Council. In 1955, platform of conciliation. He was not the first were seeking a return to a bi-communal the National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters leader openly to seek compromise: Makarios independent federation with a central (EOKA) began armed resistance against the had accepted the concept of federation in government, the Turkish Cypriots were UK. Turkey helped the Turkish Cypriot leaders 1977, and concluded the first high-level insisting on a confederation of two equal establish the Cyprus is Turkish Party and the agreement with Denktash; and President states. Turkish Resistance Organisation, and the Spyros Kyprianou had signed the second Accession negotiations with the EU began in fighting became intercommunal. high-level agreement with Denktash in 1979 November 1998 and the accession treaty on In 1960 the UK negotiated an independence and accepted the notion of bizonality formal entry of Cyprus and nine other agreement with Greece and Turkey, under proposing the demilitarisation of the island. candidate countries in May 2004 was signed which the three powers guaranteed to But Vassiliou was prepared to go further. In in April 2003. 1993, he went to the elections stating his protect the integrity of Cyprus, which was to Talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots willingness to accept, as a basis for further be allowed neither to unite with any other continued during 2001–02 and, from January country nor to be partitioned. Cyprus, which negotiations, a UN proposal for a federal 2002, these were UN-mediated talks had not taken part in these negotiations, republic. However, he lost the election by a between Clerides and Denktash, ending in became independent as the Republic of narrow margin to Glafkos Clerides, who took March 2003 when the two leaders were Cyprus. a more cautious view of the UN plan. unable to agree on putting the UN’s Intercommunal fighting broke out again a Parliamentary elections in the Republic held in settlement proposals to referendums in their few years after independence, leading to May 1996 – the first to be held since the communities, though both sides agreed to some 500 deaths and more than 1,000 adoption of proportional representation – continue negotiations. casualties. British troops imposed order and a returned the –Liberal Party Referendums on the UN reunification plan plan centred on a ceasefire line known as the coalition (supporting President Glafkos were held simultaneously in the two Green Line. In 1964, the UN Peacekeeping Clerides) with a majority of one seat. communities in April 2004. Greek Cypriots Force (UNFICYP) succeeded the British troops. There was optimism that real negotiations were overwhelmingly against the plan and A UN force remains in the same position might be about to begin when in July 1997, Turkish Cypriots strongly for it. Among the today. However, hostilities continued, with Clerides and Denktash met for the first time reasons for the plan’s rejection by Greek the Greek and Turkish military becoming in three years at a UN-sponsored meeting in Cypriots were that it would give them only involved, and very nearly led to war between New York. Subsequent meetings were held in limited rights to return to and recover their the two countries. Archbishop Makarios Nicosia and Glion (Switzerland) over the next original homes, and that it would allow tens began negotiations towards a settlement. six weeks. However, tension was mounting of thousands of Turkish settlers to stay and But in 1974 a military coup in Cyprus with successive military exercises on the island Turkey to maintain a garrison. Turkey would overthrew Makarios and installed a fervently by Greece and Turkey, and when it became also maintain its status of guarantor power, nationalist government, led by Nikos clear that the EU negotiations would proceed with the right of unilateral military Sampson, favouring enosis . Turkey invaded without reference to the occupied north if a intervention. twice, taking control of the northern 36 per settlement had not been reached in the cent of the country. Greece, in confusion meantime, and also that Turkey was not at The Republic of Cyprus became a member of after its own military coup against President this period invited to join the EU, Denktash the European Union in May 2004. The Makarios, was unable to intervene. About left the talks and the process was stalled. application of the acquis is suspended in those areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the government of the Republic of Republic of Cyprus on the international stage Cyprus does not exercise effective control. Singer and television personality Peter Andre is of Cypriot parentage, but was born in London. On the sporting front, George Achilleos, born in 1980, is a champion skeet (clay pigeon) Constitution shooter. He has won four Commonwealth gold medals, seven World Cups and four World Status: Republic with executive President Championships. Legislature: House of Representatives Cyprus has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the Commonwealth: 997 infants Independence: 16 August 1960 survive every 1,000 births. The Republic of Cyprus is a democracy with a

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directly elected executive President, serving a DIKO leader, , won the and the Turkish Cypriots, led by Mehmet Ali five-year term. The 1960 constitution has presidential election in February 2003, with Talat, began in September 2008. In June provisions to ensure a balance of power the support of AKEL and KISOS, receiving 52 2009, at the 32nd meeting, the economic between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot per cent of the votes, defeating incumbent agenda was concluded and discussions on communities. The legislature, the House of President Glafkos Clerides (39 per cent). territorial issues began. The first round of Representatives, was to be elected by negotiations was concluded with the 40th The parliamentary elections in May 2006 universal suffrage with 35 Greek and 15 meeting in August 2009. A second round of were won by the governing coalition of Turkish seats and a term of no longer than talks, covering economic matters, power- AKEL, with 18 seats and 31.1 per cent of the five years. Under the amendment of 1985, sharing, property rights and the EU was votes, DIKO (11 seats and 17.9 per cent of the legislature was to comprise 80 seats (56 conducted from September 2009 to January the votes) and EDEK (KISOS) with five seats Greek, 24 Turkish). In 1996 a system of 2010. A new round of talks got under way in and 8.9 per cent of the votes. Democratic proportional representation was introduced. May 2010, continuing through 2011, the Rally gained 18 seats and 30.3 per cent of The seats reserved for Turkish Cypriots have Turkish Cypriots now led by Dervis Eroglu. the votes. been unoccupied since 1963. The talks were abandoned in 2012. In the lead-up to the presidential election of The executive was to comprise a Greek In the May 2011 parliamentary elections, 2008, the ruling coalition of DIKO, AKEL and President, a Turkish Vice-President and a Democratic Rally secured 20 of the 56 seats council of ministers, with seven Greek and EDEK was unable to reach a consensus on a contested (34.3 per cent of the vote); AKEL three Turkish members. Ministers may not be common candidate and so Papadopoulos took 19 (32.7 per cent), DIKO nine (15.8 per members of parliament. The President is to was to run for re-election with the support cent), EDEK five (8.9 per cent), the European be elected by absolute majority. If this is not only of DIKO and EDEK. Communist party Party two (3.9 per cent) and the Green Party achieved, a second election between the two AKEL left the coalition and chose its general one (2.2 per cent), with turnout of 79 per top candidates is to be held. All Cypriots secretary and House of Representatives cent. AKEL and DIKO formed a coalition must declare themselves either to be Cypriot President, , as its government. The coalition collapsed in Greeks or Cypriot Turks (the Armenian, candidate. Ioannis Kasoulidis of Democratic August 2011 following policy disagreements, Maronite and Latin communities declared Rally was the other major candidate. leaving AKEL in a minority government. themselves Greek for this purpose). In the presidential election in February 2008 – The presidential elections of February 2013 The ratio of Greek to Turk in the army must with turnout of around 90 per cent – the were won by of be 6:4, and 7:3 in the police, judiciary and three candidates each received about one- Democratic Rally. He secured 45.5 per cent of civil service. Nicosia, Paphos, Larnaca, third of the votes (Kasoulidis 33.5 per cent; Limassol and Famagusta each have separate Christofias 33.3 per cent; Papadopoulos 31.8 the vote in the first round on 17 February, Greek and Turkish municipal authorities. per cent). No candidate having more than 50 ahead of Stavros Mala of AKEL (26.9 per Equal status was granted to the Greek and per cent of the votes, Christofias and cent) and Giorgos Lillikas of EDEK (24.9 per Turkish languages. Kasoulidis went into a second round and the cent), and went on to take 57.5 per cent in incumbent Papadopoulos was eliminated the second-round contest with Mala on 24 Politics from the contest. Christofias defeated February. Kasoulidis by 53.4 per cent to 46.6 per cent. Last elections: 22 May 2011 Christofias immediately invited DIKO and International relations (parliamentary), 17 and 24 February 2013 EDEK members to join his cabinet. DIKO (presidential) Cyprus is a member of the Council of Europe, leader Tassos Papadopoulos died in December European Union, Organisation internationale Next elections: 2016 (parliamentary), 2018 2008. de la Francophonie, Organization for Security (presidential) Formal UN-supported negotiations between and Co-operation in Europe, United Nations Head of state: President Nicos Anastasiades the government, led by President Christofias, and World Trade Organization. Head of government: The President Ruling party: Democratic Rally Further information Women MPs: 13% Cyprus Government Web Portal: www.cyprus.gov.cy In the parliamentary elections in May 2001, House of Representatives: www.parliament.cy the Progressive Party of Working People Statistical Service: www.cystat.gov.cy/mof/cystat/statistics. (AKEL) took an increased share of 34.7 per nsf/index_gr/index_gr?OpenDocument cent of votes and 20 seats, but the ruling Central Bank of Cyprus: www.centralbank.gov.cy coalition of Democratic Rally (34.0 per cent Cyprus Tourism Organisation: www.visitcyprus.com/ and 19 seats) and United Democrats (2.6 per Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org cent and one seat) narrowly won the contest. Commonwealth of Nations: www.commonwealthofnations.org/ Centre-right Democratic Party (DIKO) secured country/Cyprus 14.8 per cent of votes and nine seats and Media social democratic KISOS 6.5 per cent and Cyprus Mail : cyprus-mail.com Phileleftheros : www.philenews.com four seats. KISOS was called the Movement Politis : www.politis-news.com for Social Democracy (EDEK) until 1999 and Simerini : www.sigmalive.com/simerini again from 2006. For the first time 18–21 Financial Mirror : www.financialmirror.com year-olds were entitled to vote and, since The Cyprus Weekly : incyprus.com.cy voting is compulsory, there was a high Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: www.cybc.com.cy/en turnout (some 92 per cent) of the 468,000 Cyprus News Agency: www.cna.org.cy registered voters.

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Traveller information Travel within the country: Driving is on the run 24 hours a day between the main towns. left. Heavy fines are imposed on those driving Fares are regulated by the government and all Immigration and customs: Passports must without a seat belt or riding a motorbike taxis have meters. be valid for at least three months from the without a helmet. There are also fines for date of departure. Visas are required by Travel health: There are no prevalent those caught driving while using a mobile most Commonwealth nationals. Prohibited diseases where appropriate precautionary phone or under the influence of alcohol. imports include some food and some plant measures are recommended. material. Bus services connect towns and villages. Taxis There were 2,405,000 tourist arrivals in 2013.

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