Everything about Cyprus totally explained
Cyprus (; ), officially the
Republic of Cyprus (; ) is a
Eurasian
island country situated in the eastern
Mediterranean south of
Turkey, west of the
Levant, north of
Egypt, and eastsoutheast of
Greece.
Cyprus is the third-largest island and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, attracting over 2.4 million tourists per year. A
former British colony, it gained independence from the
United Kingdom in 1960 and became a
Commonwealth republic in 1961. The Republic of Cyprus is a
developed country and has been a member of the
European Union since
1 May 2004. It adopted the euro on
1 January 2008.
In 1974, following a
period of violence between
Greek Cypriots and
Turkish Cypriots and an attempted Greek Cypriot
coup d'état aimed at annexing the island to Greece and sponsored by the
Greek military junta of 1967-1974, Turkey
invaded and occupied one-third of the island. This led to the
displacement of thousands of Cypriots and the establishment of a separate
Turkish Cypriot political entity in the north. This event and its resulting political situation is
a matter of ongoing dispute.
The Republic of Cyprus, the internationally recognized
state, claimed
sovereignty over 97% of the island of Cyprus and all surrounding waters, with the United Kingdom controlling the remaining three percent. The island is
de facto partitioned into four main parts:
Etymology
The name 'Cyprus' has a somewhat uncertain
etymology. One suggestion is that it comes from the Greek word for the
Mediterranean cypress tree (
Cupressus sempervirens),
κυπάρισσος (
kypárissos), or even from the Greek name of the
henna plant (
Lawsonia alba),
κύπρος (
kýpros). Another school suggests that it stems from the
Eteocypriot word for
copper. Georges Dossin, for example, suggests that it has roots in the
Sumerian word for
copper (
zubar) or for
bronze (
kubar), from the large deposits of copper ore found on the island. Through overseas trade the island has given its name to the
Classical Latin word for the metal through the phrase
aes Cyprium, "metal of Cyprus", later shortened to
Cuprum. Cyprus is also called "
the island of Aphrodite", since the
Greek goddess Aphrodite, of beauty and love, was born in Cyprus. The most common theory is that it came from their word for copper, Kypros, because the island had rich deposits of copper.
History
Aphrodite,
Adonis and home to
King Cinyras,
Teucer and
Pygmalion. The earliest confirmed site of human activity is
Aetokremnos, situated on the south coast, indicating that hunter-gatherers were active on the island from around 10,000 BC, with settled, village communities dating from 8200 BC. Important remains from this early-
Neolithic period can be found at
Shillourokambos,
Kastros, and
Khirokitia, where decorated pottery and figurines of stone quite distinct from the cultures of the surrounding mainland survive.
The
Mycenaean Greeks first reached Cyprus around 1600 BC, with settlements dating from this period scattered all over the island. Another wave of Greek settlement is believed to have taken place in the period 1100-1050 BC, with the island's predominantly Greek character dating from this period. Several Phoenician colonies were founded in the 8th century BC, like Kart-Hadasht ('New Town'), near present day Larnaca and Salamis
Cyprus was conquered by
Assyria in 709 BC, before a brief spell under Egyptian rule and eventually Persian rule in 545 BC. Cypriots, led by
Onesilos, joined their fellow-Greeks in the
Ionian cities during the unsuccessful
Ionian Revolt in 499 BC against the
Achaemenid Empire. The island was brought under permanent Greek rule by
Alexander the Great and the
Ptolemies of Egypt following his death. Full
Hellenization took place during the Ptolemaic period, which ended when Cyprus was annexed by
Roman Republic in 58 BC. Cyprus was one of the first stops in
apostle Paul's missionary journey. In 395 AD it became part of the
Byzantine Empire, which lost it temporarily to the Arabs in 643 AD before reclaiming it in 966 AD.
Richard I of England captured the island in 1191 during the
Third Crusade, using it as a major supply base that was relatively safe from the
Saracens. A year later
Guy of Lusignan purchased the island from the
Templars to compensate the loss of his kingdom.
The
Republic of Venice seized control of the island in 1489 after the abdication of Queen
Caterina Cornaro, the widow of James II, the last
Lusignan king of Cyprus. Using it as an important commercial hub, Venetians soon fortified
Nicosia, the capital and most important city, with its famous Venetian Walls. Throughout Venetian rule, the
Ottoman Empire frequently raided Cyprus. In 1539 the
Ottomans destroyed
Limassol. Fearing the worst, the Venetians fortified
Famagusta,
Nicosia, and
Kyrenia.
In 1570, a full scale invasion under
Piyale Pasha with 60,000 troops brought the island under Ottoman control, despite stiff resistance by the inhabitants of
Nicosia and
Famagusta. The Ottomans applied the
millet system and allowed religious authorities to govern their own non-
Muslim minorities, but at the same time invested the
Orthodox Church as a mediator between Christian Cypriots and the authorities granting it not only religious but political and economic powers. Heavy taxation led to rebellions - between 1572 and 1668, around twenty-eight bloody uprisings took place - forcing the
Sultan to intervene. The first large-scale census of the Ottoman Empire in 1831, counting only men, showed 14,983 Muslims and 29,190 Christians. By 1872, the population of the island had risen to 144,000 comprising 44,000 Muslims and 100,000 Christians.
Administration (but not sovereignty) of the island
was ceded to the
British Empire in 1878, in the aftermath of the
Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). The island would serve Britain as a key military base in its its colonial routes. By 1906, when the Famagusta harbour was completed, Cyprus was a strategic naval outpost overlooking the
Suez Canal, the crucial main route to
India, then Britain's most important colony. Following
World War 1 and the Ottoman alliance with the
Central powers, the
United Kingdom annexed the island. In 1923, under the
Treaty of Lausanne, the nascent
Turkish republic relinquished any claim to Cyprus, and in 1925 it was declared a British
Crown Colony. Many Greek Cypriots, fought in the
British Army during both world wars, under the impression that Cyprus would eventually be united with
Greece.
In January 1950 the Orthodox Church organized a referendum boycotted by the Turkish Cypriot community with over 90% voting in favour of union with Greece. Restricted autonomy under a constitution was proposed by the British administration but eventually rejected. In 1955 the
EOKA organisation was founded, seeking independence and union with Greece through armed struggle. At the same time the
TMT, calling for
Taksim, was established by the Turkish Cypriots as a counterweight . Turmoil on the island was met with force by the British who started openly favouring Turks in police and administration as part of a divide-and-conquer policy. Nevertheless, Cyprus attained independence in 1960 after an agreement in
Zürich and London between the United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey. Britain retained two
Sovereign Base Areas in
Akrotiri and Dhekelia while government posts and public offices were allocated by ethnic quotas giving the minority Turks a permanent veto, 30% in parliament and administration, and granting the 3 mother-states guarantor rights.
Shortly afterward, inter-communal violence broke out, partially sponsored by both "motherlands" - with Turkish Cypriots shortly afterwards withdrawn in
enclaves and Greek Cypriot leader Archbishop
Makarios III calling for
constitutional changes as a means to ease tensions. In 1974 the US-backed
Greek junta - in power since 1967 - partly in a move to draw attention away from internal turmoil and partly unsatisfied with Makarios' policy in Cyprus, attempted a coup on July 13 to replace him with
Nikos Sampson and declare union with
Greece. Seven days later, Turkey launched an
invasion of Cyprus allegedly to reinstate the constitution. This resulted in bloody conflict, partition of the island and mass ethnic cleansing. The overwhelming Turkish land, naval and air superiority against the island's weak defences led to 37% of the land being brought under Turkish control. 170,000 Greek Cypriots were evicted from their homes in the north with 50,000 Turks following the opposite path.
In 1983 Turkish Cypriots unilaterally proclaimed
independence, which was only recognized by Turkey.
As of today, there are 1,534 Greek Cypriots and 502 Turkish Cypriots missing as a result of the invasion. The events of the summer of 1974 dominate the
politics on the island, as well as
Greco-Turkish relations. Around 100,000 settlers from Turkey are believed to be living in the north in violation of the
Geneva Convention and various UN resolutions. Following the invasion and the capture of its northern territory by Turkish troops, the Republic of Cyprus announced that all of its ports of entry in the north are closed, as they're not under its effective control.
Euphemistically Turkey refers to this event as an "embargo".
Since
de facto but not
de jure partition of the Republic, the north and south have followed separate paths. The Republic of Cyprus is a constitutional democracy that has reached great levels of prosperity, with a booming economy and good infrastructure. It is part of the
UN, the
European Union and several other organisations by whom it's recognized as the sole legitimate government of the whole island. The area of the Republic of Cyprus not under its effective control, the north, is over-dependent on help from Turkey. The last major effort to settle the
Cyprus dispute, was the
Annan Plan. On
10 March 2003, this most recent phase of talks collapsed in
The Hague,
Netherlands, when 30 year strong Turkish Cypriot leader
Denktaş told the Secretary-General he wouldn't put the Annan Plan to
referendum. "The plan was unacceptable for us. This wasn't a plan we'd ask our people to vote for," Mr Denktaş said. The UN plan had undergone several revisions in an attempt to win support. It was the Turkish Cypriot side which refused to even talk further, and which was blamed for the failure of the peace process . Later in its 5th revision the plan gained the support of the Turkish Cypriots but
lost support of the Greek Cypriots.
In July 2006 the island served as a safe haven for people fleeing Lebanon due to the conflict between
Israel and
Hezbollah.
In March 2008, the Republic of Cyprus demolished a wall that for decades had stood at the boundary between the Greek Cypriot controlled side and the UN buffer zone. The wall had cut across Ledra Street in the heart of Nicosia and was seen as a strong symbol of the island's 32-year division. On
April 3,
2008,
Ledra Street was reopened in the presence of Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials.
Geography
The third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after
Sicily and
Sardinia), Cyprus is situated in the eastern Mediterranean, just south of the
Anatolian peninsula (or
Asia Minor) of the Asian mainland; thus, it's often included in the
Middle East (see also
Western Asia and
Near East). Turkey is north; other neighbouring countries include Syria and Lebanon to the east,
Israel to the southeast, Egypt to the south, and Greece to the westnorthwest.
However, historically, politically and culturally Cyprus is closely aligned with Europe – the Greek Cypriots with Greece and the
Turkish Cypriots with Turkey. Historically, Cyprus has been at the
crossroads between Europe, Western Asia, and
Northern Africa, with lengthy periods of mainly Greek and intermittent Anatolian,
Levantine, and
British influences. Though these influences may cause some to consider Cyprus as a
transcontinental island, such a term is properly applied only to nations whose boundaries straddle more than one continent for example Turkey, Russia and Egypt.
The central plain, the
Mesaoria, is bordered by the Kyrenia and
Pentadactylos mountains to the north and the
Troödos mountain range to the south and west. There are also scattered, but significant, plains along the southern coast. The island's highest point is at the summit of
Mount Olympus, in the heart of the Troödos range.
The major cities in Cyprus are the capital
Nicosia (Lefkosia in
Greek, Lefkoşa in
Turkish),
Limassol (Lemesos in Greek),
Larnaca,
Paphos,
Famagusta (Gazimağusa or Mağusa in
Turkish, Ammochostos in Greek), and
Kyrenia (Girne in Turkish, Kerynia in Greek).
Climate
The climate is temperate and
Mediterranean with dry summers and variably rainy winters. Summer temperatures range from warm at higher elevations in the Troödos mountains to hot in the lowlands. Winter temperatures are mild at lower elevations, where snow rarely occurs, but are significantly colder in the mountains with sufficient snow for seasonal ski facilities. Dust storms are frequent throughout the year.
Government
Cyprus is a
Presidential republic. The head of state and the government is the President, who is elected by the universal suffrage for a five-year term. Executive power is exercised by the government. Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and the House of Representatives. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
The 1960 Constitution provided for a presidential system of government with independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as a complex system of checks and balances, including a weighted power-sharing ratio designed to protect the interests of the Turkish Cypriots. The executive, was headed by a Greek Cypriot president and a Turkish Cypriot vice president elected by their respective communities for five-year terms and each possessing a right of veto over certain types of legislation and executive decisions. Legislate power rested on the House of Representatives, also elected on the basis of separate voters' rolls. Since 1964, following clashes between the two communities, the Turkish Cypriot seats in the House remain vacant.
After an invasion of the island by
Turkey in 1974, Cyprus was divided,
de facto, into the Greek Cypriot controlled southern two-thirds of the island and the Turkish-occupied northern third. The Turkish Cypriots subsequently declared independence in 1983 as the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus but have not been recognized by any country in the world, except Turkey. In 1985, the
TRNC adopted a constitution and held its first elections. All foreign governments (except Turkey), as well as the United Nations, recognise the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus over the whole island of Cyprus.
The House of Representatives currently has 59 members elected for a five year term, 56 members by proportional representation and 3 observer members representing the
Maronite,
Latin and
Armenian minorities. 24 seats are allocated to the Turkish community but remain vacant since 1964. The political environment is dominated by the communist
AKEL, the liberal conservative
Democratic Rally, the centrist
Democratic Party, the social-democratic
EDEK and the centrist
EURO.KO.
On
17 February 2008,
Dimitris Christofias of the
AKEL was elected President of Cyprus, thus marking his party's first electoral victory without being part of a wider coalition, making Cyprus one of only two countries in the world to have a democratically elected
communist government (the other being
Moldova), and is the only European Union member state currently under communist leadership. Christofias took over government from
Tassos Papadopoulos of
Democratic Party, who had been in office since February 2003.
Districts
The Republic of Cyprus is divided into six districts: Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.
| Map of Cyprus |
Districts |
Greek name |
Turkish name | |
Famagusta |
Αμμόχωστος (Ammochostos) |
Gazimağusa/Mağusa |
Kyrenia |
Κερύvεια (Keryneia) |
Girne |
Larnaca |
Λάρνακα (Larnaka) |
Larnaka/İskele |
Limassol |
Λεμεσός (Lemesos) |
Limasol/Leymosun |
Nicosia |
Λευκωσία (Lefkosia) |
Lefkoşa |
Paphos |
Πάφος (Pafos) |
Baf
|
Exclaves and enclaves
Cyprus has four
exclaves, all in territory that belongs to the
British Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia. The first two are the villages of
Ormidhia and
Xylotymvou. Additionally there's the
Dhekelia Power Station, which is divided by a British road into two parts. The northern part is an enclave, like the two villages, whereas the southern part is located by the sea and therefore not an enclave, although it has no territorial waters of its own.
The UN buffer zone separating the territory controlled by the Turkish Cypriot administration from the rest of Cyprus runs up against Dhekelia and picks up again from its east side, off
Ayios Nikolaos (connected to the rest of Dhekelia by a thin land corridor). In that sense, the buffer zone turns the southeast corner of the island, the
Paralimni area, into a
de facto, though not
de jure, exclave.
Human rights
The constant focus on the division of the island can sometimes mask other human rights issues. Prostitution is rife in both the government-controlled and the Turkish-occupied regions, and the island as a whole has been criticised for its role in the sex trade as one of the main routes of
human trafficking from Eastern Europe. The regime in the North has been the focus of occasional
freedom of speech criticisms regarding heavy-handed treatment of newspaper editors.
Domestic violence legislation in the Republic remains largely unimplemented, and it hasn't yet been passed into law in the North. Reports on the mistreatment of domestic staff, mostly immigrant workers from developing countries, are sometimes reported in the Greek Cypriot press.
Military
The
Cypriot National Guard is the main military institution of the Republic of Cyprus. It is a
combined arms force, with land, air and naval elements.
The land forces of the Cypriot National Guard comprise the following units:
First Infantry Division (Ιη Μεραρχία ΠΖ)
Second Infantry Division (ΙΙα Μεραρχία ΠΖ)
Fourth Infantry Brigade (ΙVη Ταξιαρχία ΠΖ)
Twentieth Armored Brigade (ΧΧη ΤΘ Ταξιαρχία)
Third Support Brigade (ΙΙΙη Ταξιαρχία ΥΠ)
Eighth Support Brigade (VIIIη Ταξιαρχία ΥΠ)
The air force includes the 449th Helicopter Gunship Squadron (449 ΜΑΕ) - operating SA-342L and Bell 206 and the 450th Helicopter Gunship Squadron (450 ME/P) - operating Mi-35P, BN-2B and PC-9. Current Senior officers include Supreme Commander, Cypriot National Guard: Lt. Gen. Konstantinos Bisbikas, Deputy Commander, Cypriot National Guard: Lt. Gen. Savvas Argyrou and Chief of Staff, Cypriot National Guard: Maj. Gen. Gregory Stamoulis.
Economy
The Cypriot economy is prosperous and has diversified in recent years.
Oil has recently been discovered in the seabed between Cyprus and Egypt, and talks are underway between Lebanon and Egypt to reach an agreement regarding the exploration of these resources. The seabed separating Lebanon and Cyprus is believed to hold significant quantities of crude oil and natural gas. Growth has been buoyed by the relative stability of the Turkish new lira and by a boom in the education and construction sectors.
Demographics
According to the last census carried out by the Republic in 1960, Greek Cypriots comprise 77% of the island's population, Turkish Cypriots 18%, while the remaining 5% are of other ethnicities. However, after the Turkish invasion of 1974, about 150,000 Turks from Anatolia were transferred or decided to settle in the north. This has changed the actual demographic structure of the island. Northern Cyprus now claims 265,100 inhabitants, closer to 30% of the population of the island. The TRNC has granted citizenship to these immigrants: however, as the TRNC isn't recognised by the Republic or the international community (with the exception of Turkey), its power to create new citizens isn't recognised and the newcomers retain Turkish passports. The result of this situation is that percentage population estimates vary widely.
In the years since the census data were gathered in 2000, Cyprus has also seen a large influx of guest workers from countries such as Thailand, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, as well as major increases in the numbers of permanent British residents. The island is also home to a significant Armenian minority, as well as a large refugee population consisting of people mainly from Serbia, Palestine and Lebanon. There is also a Kurdish minority present in Cyprus.
Since the country joined the European Union, a significant Polish population has also grown up, joining sizeable communities from Russia and Ukraine (mostly Pontic Greeks, immigrating after the fall of the Eastern Bloc), Bulgaria, Romania and Eastern European states.
There is also a significant and thriving Cypriot Diaspora in other countries, with the United States, the United Kingdom, Greece and Australia hosting the majority of migrants who fled the Turkish invasion in 1974.
Religion
Most Greek Cypriots, and thus the majority of the population of Cyprus, are members of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, whereas most Turkish Cypriots are Muslim. According to Eurobarometer 2005, Cyprus is one of the most religious countries in Europe, along with Malta, Romania, Greece and Poland. In addition to the Orthodox Christian and Muslim communities, there are also small Bahá'í, Jewish, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Maronite (Eastern Rites Catholic) and Armenian Apostolic communities in Cyprus.
Education
Cyprus has a well-developed system of primary and secondary education offering both public and private education. The high quality of instruction can be attributed to a large extent to the above-average competence of the teachers. State schools are generally seen as equivalent in quality of education to private-sector institutions. However, the value of a state high-school diploma is limited by the fact that the grades obtained account for only around 25% of the final grade for each topic, with the remaining 75% assigned by the teacher during the semester, in a minimally transparent way. Greek (List of universities in Greece) and Cypriot universities (University of Cyprus
) ignore high school grades almost entirely for admissions purposes. While a high-school diploma is mandatory for university attendance, admissions are decided almost exclusively on the basis of scores at centrally administered university entrance examinations that all university candidates are required to take. The majority of Cypriots receive their higher education at Greek, British, Turkish, other European and North American universities. Private colleges and state-supported universities have been developed by both the Turkish and Greek communities.
Culture
Art
Notable artists include Rhea Bailey, Mihail Kkasialos, Theodoulos Gregoriou, Helene Black, George Skoteinos,Kalopedis family, Nicos Nicolaides, Stass Paraskos, Arestís Stasí, Telemachos Kanthos, Adamantios Diamantis and Konstantia Sofokleous
Music
The traditional folk music of Cyprus has many common elements with Greek mainland and island folk music, including dances like the sousta, syrtos, zeibekikos, tatsia, and the kartsilamas. The instruments commonly associated with Cyprus folk music are the lute ("laouto"), violin ("fkiolin"), accordion and the Cyprus flute ("pithkiavlin"). There is also a form of musical poetry known as "chattista", which is often performed at traditional feasts and celebrations. Composers associated with traditional music in Cyprus include Marios Tokas, Solon Michaelides, Savvas Salides, and Doros Georgiades. Pop music in Cyprus is generally influenced by the Greek pop music "Laïka" scene, with several artists such as Anna Vissi and Evridiki earning widespread popularity. Cypriot rock and "entechno" rock music is often associated with artists such as Michalis Hatzigiannis and Alkinoos Ioannidis. Metal also has a following in Cyprus, represented by bands such as Winter's Verge, Blynd and Armageddon Rev. 16:16.
Literature
Literary production of the antiquity includes the Cypria, an epic poem probably composed in the later seventh century BC and attributed to Stasinus. The Cypria is one of the very first specimens of Greek and European poetry. The Cypriot Zeno of Citium was the founder of the Stoic philosophy. Epic poetry, notably the "acritic songs", flourished during Middle Ages. Two chronicles, one written by Leontios Machairas and the other by Voustronios, refer to the period under French domination (15th century). Poèmes d'amour written in medieval Greek Cypriot date back from 16th century. Some of them are actual translations of poems written by Petrarch, Bembo, Ariosto and G. Sannazzaro. Modern literary figures from Cyprus include the poet and writer Kostas Montis, poet Kyriakos Charalambides, poet Michalis Pasardis, writer Nicos Nicolaides, Stylianos Atteshlis, Altheides and also Demetris Th. Gotsis. Dimitris Lipertis and Vasilis Michaelides are folk poets who wrote poems mainly in the Cypriot-Greek dialect. The majority of the play Othello by William Shakespeare is set on the island of Cyprus. Cyprus also figures in religious literature, most notably in Acts of the Apostles, according to which the Apostles Barnabas and Paul preached on the island.
Cuisine
Halloumi, (a cheese made from a mixture of goat's and sheep's milk) originates from Cyprus, and is commonly served sliced and grilled as an appetizer. Seafood dishes of Cyprus include calamari (squid), octopus in red wine, (red mullet), and sea bass. Cucumber and tomato are used widely in Cypriot cuisine. Other common vegetable preparations include potatoes in olive oil and parsley, pickled cauliflower and beets, kolokasi (taro) and asparagus. Meat dishes marinated in dried coriander seeds and wine, and eventually dried and smoked, such as lounza, charcoal-grilled lamb (souvla), sheftalia (minced meat wrapped in mesentery), as well as cracked wheat (pourgouri) are some of the traditional delicacies of the island.
Sports
Governing bodies of sport in Cyprus include the Cyprus Automobile Association, Cyprus Badminton Federation(External Link)]], Cyprus Basketball Federation, Cyprus Cricket Association, Cyprus Football Association, Cyprus Rugby Federation and the Cyprus Volleyball Federation. Marcos Baghdatis is one of the most successful tennis players in international stage. He reached the Wimbledon semi-final in 2006. Also Kyriakos Ioannou a Cypriot high jumper born in Limassol achieved a jump of 2.35 m at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics held in Osaka, Japan, in 2007 winning the bronze medal
The island has a keen football culture. Notable football teams include AC Omonia, APOEL, Anorthosis Famagusta FC, AEK Larnaca and AEL Limassol. Stadiums or sports venues in Cyprus include the GSP Stadium(the largest and home venue of the Cypriot national football team), Makario Stadium, Neo GSZ Stadium, Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium and Tsirion Stadium. The Cyprus Rally is also on the World Rally Championship sporting agenda.
Media
Southern Cyprus:
Newspapers include the Cyprus Mail, the Cyprus Observer, Famagusta Gazette, Cyprus Today, Cyprus Weekly, Financial Mirror, Haravgi, Makhi, Phileleftheros, Politis (Cyprus), and Simerini. TV channels include ANT1 Cyprus, Alfa TV, CNC Plus TV, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, Lumiere TV, Middle East Television, Mega Channel Cyprus and Sigma TV.
Northern Cyprus:
Newspapers include--Daily:
Cyprus Gazette(English name) also known as Kibris Gazetesi(Turkish name)
Cypriot Newspaper(English name) also known as Kibrisli Gazetesi(Turkish name)
Africa Gazette(English name) also known as Afrika Gazetesi(Turkish name)
Volkan Newspaper(English name) also known as Volkan Gazetesi(Turkish name)
News & Gossip Paper(English name) also known as Haber Havadis Gazetesi(Turkish name)
Union Newspaper(English name) also known as Birlik Gazetesi(Turkish name)
NewOrder Gazette(English name) also known as Yeniduzen Gazetesi(Turkish name)
Star Cyprus Newspaper(English name) also known as Star Kibris Gazetesi(Turkish name)
Public's Voice Newspaper(English name) also known as Halkin Sesi Gazetesi(Turkish name)
Motherland Gazette(English name) also known as Vatan Gazetesi(Turkish name)
Weekly:
Cyprus Observer(English name) also known as Kibris Gozlemeci Gazetesi(Turkish name)
Cyprus Today(English name) also known as Kibris Bugun Gazetesi(Turkish name)
Newperiod(English name) also known as Yenicag (Turkish name)
Infrastructure
Transportation
Since the last railway was dismantled in 1950, the remaining modes of transport are by road, sea, and air. Of the of roads in the Greek Cypriot area as of 1998, were paved, and were unpaved. As of 1996 the Turkish Cypriot area had a similar ratio of paved to unpaved, with approximately of paved road and unpaved. Cyprus is one of only four EU nations in which vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road, a remnant of British colonization.
Motorways
A1 Nicosia to Limassol
A2 connects A1 near Pera Chorio with A3 by Larnaca
A3 Larnaca to Agia Napa
A5 connects A1 near Kofinou with A3 by Larnaca
A6 Pafos to Limassol
A9 Nicosia to Astromeritis (partially under construction)
| Vehicle Category |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
| Private vehicles |
270,348 |
277,554 |
291,645 |
324,212 |
344,953 |
| Taxis |
1,641 |
1,559 |
1,696 |
1,770 |
1,845 |
| Rental cars |
8,080 |
8,509 |
9,160 |
9,652 |
8,336 |
| Buses |
3,003 |
2,997 |
3,275 |
3,199 |
3,217 |
| Light trucks (lighter than 40 tonnes) |
107,060 |
106,610 |
107,527 |
105,017 |
105,327 |
| Heavy trucks (over 40 tonnes) |
10,882 |
11,182 |
12,119 |
12,808 |
13,028 |
| Motorcycles (2 wheels) |
12,956 |
14,983 |
16,009 |
16,802 |
16,836 |
| Motorcycles (3 wheels) |
42 |
41 |
43 |
55 |
558 |
| Scooters |
28,987 |
25,252 |
25,464 |
24,539 |
22,987 |
| TOTAL |
442,999 |
448,687 |
466,938 |
498,054 |
517,087 |
In 1999, Cyprus had six heliports and two international airports: Larnaca International Airport and Paphos International Airport. Nicosia International Airport has been closed since 1974.
Public transport in Cyprus is limited to privately run bus services (except in Nicosia), taxis, and 'shared' taxi services (referred to locally as service taxis). Per capita private car ownership is the 5th highest in the world. In 2006 extensive plans were announced to improve and expand bus services and restructure public transport throughout Cyprus, with the financial backing of the European Union Development Bank. The main harbours of the island are Limassol harbour and Larnaca harbour, which service cargo, passenger, and cruise ships.
Health care
Urban hospitals include:
Nicosia New General Hospital- Nicosia
Nicosia Old General Hospital
Makario Hospital- Nicosia
Limassol New General Hospital- Limassol
Limassol Old General Hospital- Limassol
Larnaca New General Hospital- Larnaca
Larnaca Old General Hospital- Larnaca
Paphos general hospital- Paphos
Telecommunications
Cyta, the state-owned telecommunications company, manages most Telecommunications and Internet connections on the island. However, following the recent liberalization of the sector, a few private telecommunications companies have emerged including MTN, Cablenet, TelePassport, OTEnet Telecom and PrimeTel.
International membership
The island nation Cyprus is member of: Australia Group,CN, CE, CFSP, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ITUC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO. (External Link) (External Link)
International rankings
Further Information
Get more info on 'Cyprus'.
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