Cyprus

Cyprus Background

Independence from the UK was approved in 1960, with constitutional guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled almost 40% of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but it is recognized only by Turkey. The latest two-year round of UN-brokered direct talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN unity plan in an April 2004 referendum. Although only the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004, every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport will have the status of a European citizen. However, Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and economic links to northern Cyprus as a way of rewarding the Turkish Cypriot community for voting in favor of the UN unity plan.

Cyprus Information

• Population: 775,927 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot
• Location:: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
• Religions:: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%
• Ethnic Groups:: Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)
• Land Boundaries:: 0 km
• Area: total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area) water: 10 sq km land: 9,240 sq km
• Coast Line: 648 km
• Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
• Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
• Land Use: arable land: 7.79% permanent crops: 4.44% other: 87.77% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of
• Natural Resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
• Highways: total: 13,491 km note: Greek Cypriot area: 11,141 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,713 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km (2000/1996) paved: Greek Cypriot area: 6,428 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos
• Airports: 17 (2003 est.)