Name of State
Republic of Cyprus
Location and Area
Cyprus is an island of 9.251 sq kms. It is strategically situated in the far eastern end of the Mediterranean, 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).
Climate
Mediterranean, with mild, wet winters (mean daily minimum 5o C, 41o F), and hot, dry summers (mean daily maximum 36o C, 97%F).
History
Cyprus' civilisation according to archaeological evidence goes back 9.000 years to the 7th millennium BC (Neolithic or Stone Age).
The island was colonised by the Mycenaean and Achaean Greeks, Assyrians, Egyptians and Persians, Romans, Lusignans, Venetians, ottomans and British.
Population
759.000 (2000)
647.000 (85,2%)Greek Cypriots
88.000 (11,6%)Turkish Cypriots
24.000 (3,2%) foreign residents and workers
Population density: 82 persons / sq km.
The figure of the Greek Cypriot population includes the 8.000 Maronites, Armenians and Latins.
Official Languages
Greek and Turkish
English is widely spoken
Religion
The Greek Cypriots are Christian Orthodox, the Turkish Cypriots are Muslims, while the smaller Cypriot minorities of Maronites,
Armenians and Latins belong to other Christian denominations mainly Catholics.
Politics
Cyprus gained its independence from British rule in 1960.
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 House of Representatives.
Voting system: Simple proportional representation.
House members are elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term.
Judicial Power
Justice is administered by the Supreme Court and by the Assize and District Courts.
The Central Bank of Cyprus
The Central Bank of Cyprus was established in 1963. It is responsible for formulating and implementing monetary and credit policy.
It also administers the foreign exchange reserves of the Republic, supervises banks and acts as banker and financial agent of
the Government.
Local Authorities
Local government is the responsibility of the Municipal and Community Councils.
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)
Relations between Cyprus and the EU date back to the 1970's when the government of the Republic of Cyprus signed an Association
Agreement with the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1972.
The aim of Cyprus' accession to the EU is to safeguard a peaceful future for all Cypriots on the island in conditions of safety and prosperity.
On 13 December, 2002 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Cyprus was accepted as a full member state of the European Union.
British Sovereign Base Areas
There are British military bases at Akrotiri/ Episkopi and Dhekelia covering 2,74% of the country's territory. The bases were retained
by Britain under the 1960 treaty, which gave Cyprus its independence.
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 has been completely harmonised with the relevant EU laws and directives
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