GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CYPRUS  (Last Edited May 2009)

Official Name: Republic of Cyprus (Dimocratia tis Kyprou or Kypriaki Dimokratia)

Flag: White with a copper-coloured outline of the island with two green olive-branches beneath.

Geographical Position: North-Eastern Mediterranean in the Middle East, 33 degrees east of Greenwich and 35 degrees north of Equator.75 kms south of Turkey, 380 kms north of Egypt, 105 kms west of Syria and 380 kms east of the Greek island of Rhodes. There are two mountain ranges, one in the northern part (Pentadactylos) and the other on the southwest (Troodos), In between lays the Mesaoria plain.

Area: 9,251 Square Kms (3,571 sq miles)-Third largest island of the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia. Maximum length of 241 kms from east to west and maximum width of 97 Kms from north to south.

Capital: Nicosia (Divided in Greek-Cypriot sector and Turkish-Cypriot sector) population 200,000) Other Towns: Limassol (Main Port), Larnaca (Airport), Famagusta (Abandoned since 1974), Kyrenia (Under Turkish occupation in the “Northern Republic of Northern Cyprus”).

Ports: Limassol, Larnaca, Famagusta (North)

Airports: Larnaca, Pafos, Nicosia (closed since 1974), Tymbou (North)

Date of Independence: 16 August 1960 (Celebrated on 1^st October)

Political Situation: Cyprus is divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion into two parts: The Republic of Cyprus recognized by all the international community except Turkey in the South (around 60%) where most Greek-Cypriots live, including around 160,000 refugees who were living in the North before 1974 and the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” in the South (around 34% of the territory) recognized only by Turkey, where there are around 130,000 Turkish-Cypriots, 120,000 Turkish nationals and 40,000 Turkish troops. 3% of the land is the so-called buffer zone separating the North and the South and guarded by the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and 4% of the territory belongs to two sovereign British bases.

President of the Republic of Cyprus:  Demetris Christofias (1.3.2008-5-year term).

President of the House of Parliament: Marios Karoyian (2008- 5 year term)

Main Political Parties: AKEL (Left): General Secretary Andros Kyprianou

                                         DISI (Center Right): President Nicos Anastasiades

                                         DIKO (Center): President Marios Karoyian

                                         EDEK (Socialist): President Yiannakis Omirou

Population: 700,000 in the government controlled area and 200,000 in the occupied area, including around 100,000 Turkish Nationals and in addition 40,000 Turkish troops.

Ethnic Composition: 83% Greeks (99.5% of the Greek-Cypriots live in the South), 15% Turks (98.7% live in the North), 2% others.

Religions: Greek-Orthodox (Greek Population), Sunni Muslim (Turkish Population), Catholic (Latins and Maronites).

Official Languages: Greek and Turkish (English is spoken widely).

Currency:  Euro (Since 1.1.2008)

Government type: Based on 1960 Constitution. Presidential Republic. Greek-Cypriot President is both chief of state and head of government and is elected by universal suffrage for a 5-year term with no limitations as to reelection. Position of Vice-President reserved to the Turkish-Cypriot community is vacant since the 1963 communal strife. 10 ministers appointed by President who exercises executive power through the Council of Ministers.

Legal System: Common Law (Cyprus was a British Colony from 1878-1960) with civil law (continental law) modifications especially in administrative law.

Legislative Branch: Multi-party, unicameral House of Representatives, elected by universal suffrage, has 80 seats, 56 assigned to Greek-Cypriots and 24 to Turkish-Cypriots which are not filled.

International Membership: United Nations (1960), British Commonwealth (1961), Council of Europe (1961) European Union (1^st  May 2004), OSCE, OECD, WTO, WCO, IAEA. OPCW, the World Bank, the I.M.F etc.

Literacy Rate: 98%

Climate: Mediterranean with hot, dry summers from June to September and cool  rather rainy and variable winters from November to March, separated by short autumn and spring seasons of rapid change.

Altitudes: Highest: 1.951 meters  Mount Olympus

                  Nicosia: 180 meters

Time: +2 hours GMT, +1 hour compared with U.K, Germany, Italy.

International Code: CY

Internet Code:    .cy

Television Stations: 2 public (CBC 1 and 2), 3 Private (Sigma, Mega, Antena), two cable (Lumier-Alpha and Nova).

International Telephone Code: 357-   22 (Nicosia), 23 (Famagusta), 24 (Larnaca), 25 (Limassol), 26 (Pafos), 99 (mobile phone numbers). Followed by 6-digit local numbers.

Daily Newspapers: 6 Greek newspapers and 1 English (“The Cyprus Mail”) and 3 Internet newspapers.

Weights and Measures: The metric system.

Life Expectancy: Males: 76.1- Females: 81 (2001)