ABOUT CYPRUS

General

Official name: Republic of Cyprus

National Day: 1 October

Capital: Lefkosia (Nicosia)

Area: 9.251 km2 (3.572 square miles)

Location: eastern Mediterranean (33° E, 35° N)

Climate: Mediterranean

Population: 947,000 (December 2016 census)

Official languages: Greek and Turkish

Cyprus gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1960. In 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus and occupied 36,2% of its sovereign territory. A ceasefire line still runs across the island and cuts through the heart of the capital, Lefkosia, dividing the city and the country. Although its northern part is under foreign occupation, the Republic of Cyprus is internationally recognised as the sole legitimate state on the island with sovereignty over its entire territory, including the areas occupied by Turkey.

Flag:

The flag of the Republic of Cyprus features a white background with a copper-coloured silhouette of the map of Cyprus in the centre above two crossed olive branches, symbols of peace.

Emblem:

The Emblem of the Republic of Cyprus depicts a white dove carrying an olive branch in its beak and placed inside a shield in the colour of copper; the year of the independence of Cyprus, “1960”, appears underneath the dove; the shield is braced by two olive-green-coloured olive branches, which along with the white dove constitute symbols of peace.

Chronology

2nd and 1st millennium BC Mycenean and Achaean Greeks settle in Cyprus.

30BC - 330AD Cyprus a province of the Roman Empire.

330AD – 1191 Cyprus a province of the Byzantine Empire.

1191 – 1571 Cyprus under the rule of the Crusaders, the Order of the Knights Templar, the French Lusignans (1192−1489) and the Venetians (1489−1571).

1571 – 1878 Cyprus under Ottoman rule.

1878 – 1960 Cyprus under British rule.

1960 - 16 August Proclamation of the Republic of Cyprus.

1974 - 20 July Turkey invades Cyprus and occupies 36,2% of the Republic.

2004 - 1 May The Republic of Cyprus becomes a member of the European Union.

2008 - 1 January Cyprus joins the Eurozone.

2012 – 1 July-31 December The Republic of Cyprus holds its first Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Government

Cyprus is an independent sovereign Republic with a presidential system of government. The constitution provides for separate executive, legislative and judicial branches of government with independent powers. The President is Head of State and Government. The President and the Council of Ministers exercise executive power.

Legislative authority is exercised by a unicameral House of Representatives. Its members are elected for a five-year term. The House currently consists of 56 members. The Maronite, Armenian and Latin religious groups, elect one additional representative each from their ranks. The President of the Republic of Cyprus is invested in office by the House of Representatives.

The judiciary is established as a separate power, independent from the other two branches of the state and autonomous in its sphere of competencies, authority and jurisdiction. The Supreme Court is the highest court and has jurisdiction to examine the constitutionality of any law or any conflict of power or competence which arises between any organs or authorities of the Republic.

There are also independent officers and bodies, including, inter alia, the Attorney-General and Auditor-General who head the Law Office and Audit Office respectively, as well as the Governor of the Central Bank and the Ombudsman (Commissioner for Administration).

International Relations

Cyprus maintains good relations with a considerable number of countries and the objective of its foreign policy is to have an active involvement in processes that aim to promote international cooperation, peace, stability, and sustainable development. Cyprus has always been a dedicated supporter of human rights, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and a strong advocate of international peace and security.

Cyprus’ geographic position enables it to play a role both in the Eastern Mediterranean region and within the European family. Its accession to the European Union initiated a new era in its relations with third countries, thus becoming a bridge of communication between the European Union and these countries. Cyprus seeks to explore synergies, optimize resource development and create opportunities through interstate and regional collaboration, to the benefit of peace and prosperity in the wider Eastern Mediterranean. In this respect, the discovery of substantial amounts of hydrocarbons in the region has opened up new possibilities for cooperation among the countries of the region, as well as between them and the EU.

Cyprus is a member of, inter alia:

• The United Nations (1960) and most of its specialised agencies
• The Council of Europe (1961)
• The Commonwealth (1961)
• The World Bank (1961)
• The International Monetary Fund (1961)
• The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (1975)
• The World Trade Organisation (1995)

European Union Membership

On 1 May 2004 the Republic of Cyprus became a full member of the EU. The application of the EU laws and regulations (the acquis communautaire) is suspended in the area under military occupation by Turkey, pending a solution to the occupation and forcible division of the country.

While Cyprus has a lot to benefit from EU membership, it also has a lot to offer as a member state. Strategically situated at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, Cyprus is becoming an even more important regional business centre, as well as an international communications and transport hub. Given its modern infrastructure, sound legal system, tax incentives, low crime rate and well educated labour force, Cyprus is a favourite regional operations platform for European and other international companies.

Since its accession to the EU, Cyprus has undergone significant structural reforms that have transformed its economic landscape. Cyprus held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first time from July – December 2012.

Cultural Heritage & Multiculturalism

Geographically, Cyprus is at a crossroads of civilisations and a bridge between cultures. Cyprus has been conquered by many powers at various periods and has managed to assimilate various cultural influences. Its geographic and strategic position has turned it into an example and prototype of harmonious coexistence of different cultures. Dispersed throughout its territory are historic and religious monuments of varying styles, themes and philosophies. As an EU member state, this advantage contributes to the promotion of principles on which the European ideals are based, that is, the peaceful coexistence, cooperation, respect for diversity and the seeking of a convergence of ideas.

Neolithic settlements (Choirokoitia)

Classical, Hellenistic and Roman monuments (Salamina, Ancient Odeon of Pafos, Mosaics from the House of Dionysos in Pafos)

Byzantine and Latin churches and monasteries (the Church of Panayia Phorviotissa-Asinou, the Church of Ayios Nikolaos tis Stegis, Kykkos Monastery)

Medieval castles and fortresses (Venetian Walls of Nicosia, St Hilarion Castle, Kantara Castle, Voufavento Castle)

Mosques (Hala Sultan Mosque, Bayraktar Mosque)

History

According to archaeological evidence, Cyprus’ civilization goes back 12.000 years to the 10th millennium BC (early Neolithic Period or Stone Age). The island acquired its Greek character after it was settled by the Mycenaean-Achaean Greeks between the 13th and 11th century BC. In the mid-9th century BC Phoenician settlers began to arrive. Subsequently, Cyprus came under Assyrian, Egyptian and Persian domination (8th - 4th century BC) and became part of the Roman Empire between 30 BC and 330 AD.

As part of the Ptolemaic dynasty during the Hellenistic period (310-30 BC) and of the Greek-speaking world of Byzantium (330 AD-1191), its ethnic heritage was kept alive. The Greek language and culture prevailed throughout the centuries even though Cyprus came under the rule of successive foreign powers – King Richard I (the Lionheart) of England and the Knights Templar (1191-1192), the Franks (Lusignans) (1192-1489), Venetians (1489-1571), Ottoman Turks (1571-1878) and British (1878-1960).

Following an anti-colonial liberation struggle against British rule from 1955 to 1959, Cyprus gained its independence and became a constitutional Republic in 1960. Under the Zurich-London Agreements, Greece, Turkey and Britain stood as guarantors of the country’s independence and Britain retained two sovereign base areas. Political power was to be shared between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots on a 7:3 ratio. This gave the Turkish Cypriot community (a numerical minority of 18% of the population) 30% representation in the government and state institutions. In addition, the Turkish Cypriot community had veto rights on major issues.

Relations between the two communities had for centuries been peaceful and amicable. However, certain provisions of the Zurich-London Agreements and the 1960 Constitution (which were effectively imposed on the people of Cyprus) were to prove conducive to domestic conflict and foreign interference. The Constitution itself emphasised differences between Greek and Turkish Cypriots thereby encouraging divisive rather than integrative tendencies between the two communities. Greek Cypriots were determined to strengthen the unity of the state but the Turkish Cypriot leadership, at the strong urging of Turkey, sought ethnic segregation and geographic separation. This led to brief intercommunal clashes during 1963 to 1967 and air attacks and threats to invade by Turkey. Turkish Cypriots ceased to participate in the government, the legislature and civil service in 1964.

UN sponsored intercommunal talks to reach a settlement were held between 1968-1974. Intercommunal tensions subsided and violence virtually disappeared during this period. The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was established in 1964. Its chief task now is to supervise the buffer zone and maintain the 1974 UN ceasefire, given that more than 40.000 troops from Turkey are still occupying the northern part of the island.

Military invasion and occupation by Turkey

On 15 July 1974, the military junta then ruling Greece, carried out a coup to overthrow the democratically elected government of Cyprus. On 20 July, Turkey, using the coup as a pretext, invaded Cyprus purportedly to restore constitutional order. Instead, it seized 36,2% of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Cyprus in violation of the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law. Turkey’s military aggression against Cyprus continues unabated for more than four decades in spite of UN resolutions calling for the withdrawal of its troops from Cyprus.

The invasion and occupation had disastrous consequences: thousands were killed and about 180.000 Greek Cypriots living in the north – over a third of the total population – were displaced from their homes. Another 20.000 were enclaved in the occupied area and gradually forced through intimidation and denial of their fundamental human rights to abandon their homes and seek refuge in the government-controlled area. Today, there are less than 400, mostly elderly, enclaved people. Moreover, Turkish Cypriots from around the island were forced by Turkey and their leadership, to move to the occupied area in line with Turkey’s policy of ethnic segregation.

More than 1.500 Greek Cypriot civilians and soldiers went missing during the invasion. Many were in Turkish custody and some were seen in prisons in Turkey and the occupied area before their disappearance. The fate of the majority of the missing persons is still to be determined as Turkey continues to refuse to cooperate fully in resolving this humanitarian issue.

The policy of transferring settlers from Turkey to the occupied areas has changed demographics to such an extent that these illegal settlers outnumber the Turkish Cypriots by almost two to one.

Much of the rich cultural heritage in the occupied areas has been destroyed and places of worship have been desecrated. This crime has been perpetrated largely by the Turkish army and Turkish nationals and still goes on with the collusion of the occupying power.

UN General Assembly and Security Council Resolutions, resolutions adopted by numerous other international organisations, as well as decisions by international courts, reflect the universal condemnation of Turkey’s invasion and all subsequent acts of aggression against Cyprus; demand the return of the refugees to their homes in safety and the tracing of the missing persons, and call for respect for the human rights of all Cypriots as well as for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus. The European Court of Human Rights has consistently found the government of Turkey responsible for gross and systematic violations of human rights in Cyprus.

Successive rounds of UN-sponsored talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities since 1974 to resolve the Cyprus problem and reunite the country have been undermined by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership, which have sought a settlement that would leave Cyprus permanently divided.

It is aspired that a viable, lasting and functional settlement will ensure that Cyprus will remain a modern EU and UN member-state, enjoying full sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.