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CYPRUS Focal Point |
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CYPRUS Focal Point |
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Geography
Geology
Natural Vegetation
Birds and animals
Climate
Environment
Brief
Historical Survey
Republic of Cyprus - 1960
Turkish Invasion and Occupation
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Administration
Economy
Tourism
Overall
Social Policy
Health
Languages
Geography
Cyprus is situated in the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, 33° east
of Greenwich and 35° north of the Equator and has an
area of 9.251 square kilometres, of which 1.733 are forested.
The present population of Cyprus is 765.000 of whom 653.000 (85,3%) are Greek
Cypriots, 87.700 (11,5%) are Turkish Cypriots and 24.500 (3,2%) are foreigners
residing in Cyprus.
The capital of the island is Nicosia (Lefkosia) with á
population of 200.500 in the sector controlled by the government of the Republic
of Cyprus. It is situated roughly in the centre of the island and is the seat of
government as well as the main business centre. The 1974 Turkish invasion and
occupation of 35% of the island's territory literally cut the capital in half.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nicosia remains the only
militarily divided capital
in the world.
The second largest town is Limassol in the south which has around 157.500
inhabitants. It is Cyprus' main commercial port and an
important tourist resort.
Larnaca, in the south-east of the island, has á
population of 70.500 and is the island's second commercial port and also an
important tourist resort. To
the north of the town is located the island's oil refinery, while to the south
is situated Larnaca's International Airport.
Finally, Paphos in the south-west with á
population approaching 45.900 is á
fast developing tourist resort, home to the island's second International
Airport and it has an
attractive fishing harbour.
In the Turkish occupied area, the town of Famagusta, the centre of the pre-1974
tourist
iindustry,
is now á
ghost town, deserted since 1974 when its inhabitants fled from
advancing Turkish troops. The town of Kyrenia, another important tourist resort
is the north coast of Morphou situated in the important agricultural area of
western Messaoria, is now inhabited almost exclusively by Turkish Cypriots and
Turkish settlers as the Greek Cypriots were forced in 1974 to abandon their
homes and properties and move to the south under the threat of guns of the
Turkish occupation army.
Since the Turkish invasion and occupation of over a third of the island, the
demographic balance has changed dramatically as a result of Turkey's population
policies. There are now around 115.000 illegal Turkish settlers in the occupied
area, while an estimated 55.000 Turkish Cypriots have emigrated.
Geology
Cyprus is divided into three geological zones, the Pendadaktylos or Kyrenia
range to the north, the Troodos massif to the south, and the Messaoria plain
separating the two.
The Droodos Range
This is a dome-shaped highland of mainly infertile igneous rocks forming the
backbone of the island and situated in the central-western part of the island.
It is a region of high relief rising to 1.951 meters in Mount Olympus. Several
torrents spring racially from Troodos ending in the sea. The forests which cover
the Troodos massif combined with its steep slopes and precipices and narrow
valleys and crevices help create a beautiful scenery. The hard igneous rocks are
surrounded by a lower belt of dome-shaped pillow lava, a most infertile area
which levels gradually towards the coast.
The Troodos Mountains, geologically described as the Troodos massif of Troodos
Ophiolite Complex, occupy a roughly oval area of 3.200 km²
in the central and western part of the island. The Troodos massif formed almost
entirely of uppermost Cretaceous (about 85 million years ago) mafic and
ultramafic igneous rocks, is regarded as one of the best exposed and underformed
ophiolites (fragment of oceanic lithosphere and
upper mantle).
The Kyrenia Range
This northern mountain range, mainly of limestone, rises up to 1.024 metres at
Kyparissovouno. Part of this range consists of a finger-shaped mountain known as
"Pendadaktylos" (five-fingers). It is in this picturesque mountain range that
the three famous castles of St. Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara are found. A
number of crevices have helped the development of a network of communications
with the northern coastal valleys. Karpassia, the north-eastern part of the
range, is a continuation of Pendadaktylos consisting of hills, slopes and
valleys free of foldings and other tectonic features.
The Pendadaktylos Range is made of á
succession of mostly allochthonous sedimentary formations ranging from Permian
to Middle Miocene in age. The oldest rocks consist of a series of allochthonous
recrystallised limestones and dolomites (Dhikomo, Sykhari and St. Hilarion
Formations) the age of which range from Permian to Middle Cretaceous.
The Mesaoria or Central Plain
The central plain is situated between the Troodos and Kyrenia mountain ranges
and has a low relief, not exceeding 180 metres near Nicosia. This plain is
composed ïf
flyschtype rocks carried by rivers from the Troodos and Kyrenia ranges and was
formed during a very recent chronological period (holocene). The Messaoria plain
is formed of a succession of upper cretaceous to pleistocene sedimentary rocks.
Natural Vegetation
Notwithstanding its small size, Cyprus has a wide variety of natural vegetation.
This includes forests of hardwood, evergreen and broadleaved trees such as pinus
latepensis, cedar, cypressus and oak. About 17% of the whole island is
classified as woodland. Where the forest has been destroyed, tall shrub
communities may survive. Over most of the island untilled ground bears a grazed
covering of garigue, lagerly composed of low bushes. Where grazing is excessive
this covering is soon reduced, and an impoverished batha remains, and a few
stunted herbs. There are about 1.900 species and subspecies of flowering plants,
140 of them endemic.
Birds and animals
Cyprus has been endowed with a rich fauna including á large number of endemic
birds, reptiles and animals. Because of its position, Cyprus is also a vital
stop-over place for thousands of migratory birds which find the island an ideal
place for both feeding and refuge. Among the animals the moufflon occupies an
outstanding position and is considered as one of the natural treasures of the
island. The moufflon belongs to the sheep family but this species is unique in
the world. This interesting and noble beast, which is the symbol of the Cyprus
Republic and is used on its coins, had long been in danger of extinction, but it
is a fully protected animal, today.
The fauna of Cyprus includes 25 species of mammals, 26 species of amphibians and
reptiles, 357 species of birds, and a great variety of invertebrates. The
coastal waters of the island give shelter to 197 fish species and to various
species of crabs, sponges and echinodermata.
Climate
Cyprus has an intense Mediterranean climate with the typical seasonal rhythm
strongly marked in respect of temperature, rainfall and weather generally. Hot,
dry summers from mid-May to mid-September and rainy, rather changeable winters
from mid-November to March-March are separated by short autumn and spring
seasons.
The average rainfall from December to February is about 60% of the average
annual total precipitation for the island as a whole, which is 500 mm. Autumn
and winter rainfall, on which agriculture and water supply generally depend,
tends to be variable. Snow occurs rarely in the lowland and on the northern
range but falls every winter on ground above 1.000 metres.
Temperatures are high in summer and the mean daily temperature in July and
August ranges between 29°C on the central plain to 22°C on the Troodos
mountains, while the average maximum temperature for these months ranges between
36°C and 27°C respectively. Winters are mild with a mean January temperature of
10°C of the central plain and 3°C on the higher parts of the Troodos mountains
and with an average minimum temperature of 5°C and 0°C respectively.
Relative humidity of the air is on average between 60% and 80% in winter and
between 40% and 60% in summer with even lower values over island areas around
midday. Fog is infrequent and visibility is generally very good. Sunshine is
abundant during the whole year and particularly from April to September when the
average duration of bright sunshine exceeds 11 hours per day.
Winds are generally light to moderate and variable in direction. Strong winds
may occur sometimes, but gales are infrequent over Cyprus and are mainly
confined to exposed coastal areas as well as areas at high elevation.
Environment
The island's largest wild animal, the moufflon (Ovis gmelini ophion), is a rate
type of wild sheep that can be found only in Cyprus. This rare endemic animal is
strictly protected and its population has revived from near extinction, at the
beginning of the century, to about 1.500 animals, at present.
The island is used by millions of birds during their migration from Europe to
Africa and back again, the main reason being the occurrence on the island of two
coastal wetlands, with unique and international importance, i.e. the Larnaca and
Akrotiri Salt Lakes. Of the numerous wild birds of Cyprus, birds of prey are the
most fascinating and among them the Eleonora´s Falcon (Falco eleonarae) and the
Imperial Eagle (Aguilla heliaca) are the jewel of the crown. From the sea
creatures, such as seals and turtles, the Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the
Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) breed regularly in the island’s sandy
beaches. A successful conservation project was launched in order to protect the
Green and Loggerhead turtles. The programme, which includes a hatchery, is a
model one in the Mediterranean. As far as seals are concerned, although they no
longer breed in the coastal sea caves, however, occasional sightings have been
reported. Seals, dolphins and turtles are protected under the Fisheries Law.
Brief Historical Survey
Cyprus, according to
mythology,
is the birthplace of the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. The island is
both an
ancient land, with an
eleven thousand year-old history and civilisation as well as a young
independent Republic since 1960. Its geographic location at the crossroads of
three continents-Europe, Asia and Africa - and
at the meeting point of great civilisations,
has been one of the factors influencing the course of the island's history
throughout the
centuries.
Republic of Cyprus - 1960
According to the Zurich-London agreements, Cyprus became an independent republic
on the 16th August 1960. As an independent country it became a member of the
United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned
Movement. According to the above treaty, Britain retained two sovereign bases
(158,5 sq. km) on the island, at Dhekelia and Akrotiri-Episkopi.
The Zurich - London agreements comprised the Treaty of Establishment, the Treaty
of Guarantee and the Treaty of Alliance. Under the Treaty of Establishment,
Britain retained sovereignty over 256 sq. kilometres in Dhekelia and Akrotiri.
These are known as the sovereignty Base Areas. Under the Treaty of Guarantee,
Britain, Greece and Turkey pledged to ensure the independence, territorial
integrity of Cyprus as well as respect for its Constitution. The Treaty of
Alliance between Cyprus, Greece and Turkey was a military alliance agreed for
defense purposes. These agreements also became the basis for the 1960
Constitution.
The Constitution incorporated a system of entrenched minority rights
unparalleled in any other country, making it not only divisive in nature but
also unworkable. The Turkish Cypriot leadership's use of its extensive powers of
veto gave rise to deadlock and inertia. In November 1963, when President
Makarios put forward proposals for amendment of the Constitution in order to
facilitate the smooth smooth functioning of government, Ankara promptly rejected
them, before the Turkish Cypriot side had time to consider the matter.
The Turkish Cypriot ministers withdrew from the Council of Minister and Turkish
Cypriot civil servants ceased attending their offices. The ensuring
constitutional deadlock gave rise to intercommunal clashes and Turkish threats
to invade. Since then, the aim of the Turkish Cypriot leadership, acting on
instructions from the Turkish Government, has been the partitioning of Cyprus
and its annexation to Turkey.
Turkish Invasion and Occupation
On 15 July 1974 the ruling military junta of Greece staged 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 35% of the territory of Cyprus
in the north, an act universally condemned as a gross infringement of
international law and the UN Charter. Turkey, only 75 kms (47 miles) away, had
repeatedly claimed, for decades before the invasion and frequently afterwards,
that Cyprus was of vital strategic importance to it. Ankara has defied á host of
UN resolutions demanding the withdrawal of its occupation troops from the
island.
On 1 November 1974, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted Resolution 3212,
the first of many resolutions calling for respect for the sovereignty,
independence, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus
and for the speedy withdrawal of all foreign troops.
Constitution
According to the Constitution of 1960 the government of Cyprus was constituted
in the following manner. Executive power: Article 1 provides that the Republic
will have a President who shall be a Greek Cypriot and a Vice President who
shall be a Turkish Cypriot, elected by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot
communities respectively. The Constitution stipulates further that the President
will appoint seven Greek Cypriot Ministers and the Vice President three Turkish
Cypriot Ministers.
Legislative power according to the Constitution is exercised by the House of
Representatives comprising 50 Representatives, 70% (35) elected by the Greek
Cypriot community and 30% (15) by the Turkish Cypriot community.
The administration of justice is carried out by the following judicial
institutions: The Supreme Court, the Assize Court, the District Courts, the
Military Court, the Rent Control Courts, Industrial Disputes Court and Family
Courts.
The 1960 constitutional set up lasted for only three years. Following the
Turkish Cypriot rebellion against the state in December 1963, the Turkish
Cypriot leadership withdrew all members of the community from all the organs of
the state.
Executive Power
The President
and the Vice-President of the Republic were jointly responsible for establishing
a, Council) of Ministers.
Of three key ministries -
foreign affairs, defence, and finance, one was to be held by a Turkish Cypriot.
The President and the Vice-President were also given the right to terminate the
appointment of any Minister designated by themselves.
The President and the Vice-President of the Republic were granted considerable
authority in relation to the legislature, including either conjointly or
separately, a right of final veto on any law or decision of the House of
Representatives relating to foreign affairs, defence and security. Furthermore,
they had, either separately or conjointly, the right to return any law or
decision of the House of Representatives, or any decision of the Council of
Ministers.
The President and the Vice-President of the Republic were required to promulgate
a Law or decision of the House of Representatives by publication in the official
Gazette of the Republic within 15 days of notification unless they chose to
exercise their right of veto, their right to return the legislation or to refer
it to the Supreme Constitutional Court for a ruling on its constitutionality.
The main organ for the exercise of the executive power under the 1960
Constitution is the Council of Ministers, which enjoys all the residuary of
executive power other than that specifically reserved for the President and the
Vice-President of the Communal Chambers.
The legislative power of the Republic is exercised by the House of
Representatives in all matters not expressly reserved for the Communal Chambers
(Article 61). The 1960 Constitution stipulated that there should be 50
members of which 70%, that is to say 35, were to be elected by the Greek
community and 30% that is to say 15, by the Turkish community. Under a special
Law passed in 1985, the number of seats in the House of Representatives
was increased to 80. The representatives are elected for five years.
Judicial Power
The
administration of justice is exercised by the island's separate and independent
judiciary. Under the 1960 Constitution and other legislation in
force, the following judicial institutions have been established: The Supreme
Court of the Republic, the Assize Court (Permanent Assize Court for all
Districts), District Courts, the Military Court, the Industrial Disputes Court,
Rent Control Courts and Family Courts.
Public
Service of the Republic
The Public
Service of the Republic under the 1960 settlement was to be comprised 70% of
Greek Cypriots and 30% of Turkish Cypriots. A Public Service Commission
consisting of a Chairman and nine other members - seven Greek Cypriots, and
three Turkish Cypriots - appointed for a term of six years by the President and
the Vice-President of the Republic, was also created. The Commission was given
responsibility for allocating public offices between the two communities and
appointing, promoting, transferring and retiring staff as well as exercising
disciplinary control, including dismissal and removal from office.
Human Rights
The
definition and protection of fundamental human rights and liberties was catered
for in the London Agreement rather than the Zurich Agreement. Article 5 of the
Treaty of Establishment of the Republic undertook to secure for everyone within
its jurisdiction, human rights and fundamental freedoms comparable to those set
out in Section 1 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights
and Fundamental Freedoms, to which Cyprus is a party.
Part II of the Constitution sets out a broad range of human rights, including
all eighteen rights provided by the European Convention and its Protocols. These
cover both individual and social rights such as the right to life, prohibition
of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, prohibition of
slavery or forced or compulsory labour, the right to liberty and security of
person, the fair and public hearing of civil and criminal trials, the right to
privacy, the right to marry, the freedom of thought and expression, the right to
property, the right to education and the right to effective remedy. Other rights
include the right to a decent existence and social security, the right to work,
the right to enter into any contract, the right to form and join trade unions,
the right to strike, the right to address written petitions or complaints to the
competent authorities for a remedy, and the right of equality before the Law.
Justice is guaranteed to any person without any direct or indirect
discrimination.
Executive
Cyprus is an independent sovereign Republic with a presidential system of
government.
Under the 1960 Constitution, executive power is vested in the President of the
Republic, elected by universal suffrage to a five-year term of office. The
President exercises executive power through a Council of Ministers appointed by
him. The Ministers may be chosen from outside the House of Representatives.
Each Minister is the head of his Ministry and exercises executive power of all
subjects within that Ministry's domain.
Legislature
The Legislative power of the Republic is exercised by the House of
Representatives in all matters. The term of office of the House of
Representatives is five years. Members of the government may not be members of
the House of Representatives. The two offices are incompatible, and if a member
of the House is appointed by the President to become a minister, he must
relinquish his seat in the House. Both representatives and ministers have the
right to introduce bills in the House. However representatives are not permitted
to introduce any bills related to an increase in budgetary expenditure.
Administration
Cyprus is divided into six administrative districts. These are Nicosia (the
island's capital and seat of government), Famagusta, Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca
and Kyrenia.
District
Administration
Each district is headed by á District Officer who is essentially the local
representative or extended arm of the central government. The District Officer
holds a position analogous to Prefect in France or Commissioner in some other
countries. The District Officer acts as the chief-coordinator of the activities
of all ministries in the district. District Officers report and are answerable
to the Ministry of the Interior, which is headed by a Permanent Secretary as
chief administrator.
Local
Authorities
The general local administrative structure in Cyprus operates through a 3-tier
system, with municipal councils at the top, improvement boards in the middle and
village commissions at the lowest level. These are independent bodies
responsible for the management of affairs in their respective areas and there is
no hierarchical relationship between them. Municipalities provide the local
government for district towns and a number of large villages, while improvement
boards and village commissions constitute the local structures in all remaining
villages. Economically stronger villages whose communities are able to shoulder
heavier burdens and responsibilities are promoted to the intermediate level of
Improvement Boards, whose functions and authorities are wider.
Members of the above bodies are elected by universal suffrage of citizens over
18 years old. Central government involvement is essentially limited to the
provision of technical and administrative support and supervision.
Independent Officers and Bodies
A number of officers and bodies are independent and do not come under any
Ministry. The independent officers of the Republic under the Constitution are
the Attorney-General and Auditor-General, who head the law Office and Audit
Office respectively, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus. The
Ombudsman is also an independent officer of the Republic whose position,
however, was created much later, in 1991.
The bodies with independent functions include the Public Service Commission, the
Educational Service Commission and the Planning Bureau.
Economy
Cyprus has a record of successful economic performance, reflected in rapid
growth, full employment conditions and external and internal stability, almost
throughout the post-independence period. The underdeveloped economy, inherited
from Colonial Rule in 1960, has been transformed into a modern economy, with
dynamic services, industrial and agricultural sectors and advanced physical and
social infrastructure. In terms of per capita income, currently estimated at
US$13.125 (2000), Cyprus is classified among~ the high-income countries. These
achievements appear are the more striking, bearing in mind the severe economic
and social dislocation created by the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the
continuing occupation of the northern part of the island by Turkey.
The success of Cyprus in the economic sphere is attributed, inter alia, to the
adoption of a market oriented economic system, the pursuance of sound
macroeconomic policies by the government as well as the existence of a dynamic
and flexible entrepreneurship and a highly educated labour force. Moreover, the
economy has benefited from the close cooperation between the public sector and
the social partners.
During the last decade, the Cyprus economy intensified its links to Europe. The
relations with the European Union, the largest trading partner of Cyprus, are
currently governed by a Customs Union Agreement, which basically provides for a
gradual and mutual dismantling of trade barriers. In July 990, the government of
the Republic of Cyprus submitted an application to become a full member of the
European Union. The European Commission, in its opinion on the application of
Cyprus, recognised the ability of the Cyprus economy to adapt rapidly to the
acquis communautaire.
In 2000 the Cyprus economy registered a growth rate of 5% which is considered
satisfactory compared with the growth rates of the EU and the world economy.
Full employment conditions continued to prevail as the employment rate was only
3, 3%. Inflation rate accelerated to 4, 1% due to higher international oil
prices and the serious drought which affected the agricultural sector. The
fiscal deficit declined to 3, 5% and it is in line with the targets for
macroeconomic convergence with the Maastricht Criteria.
Tourism
The foundations of Cyprus' tourism were laid in the early sixties. Its progress
had been smooth and successful until the summer of the 1974 Turkish invasion.
All economic activity came to a standstill and the tourist sector suffered a
devastating blow when the two highly-developed regions of Famagusta and Kyrenia
fell in the hands of the invaders. This had as a result the loss of 13.000 beds
constituting 71,7% of the total bed capacity at the time, plus 5.000 beds under
construction and about 40% of the island's tourist facilities in restaurants,
cafes, bars and nightclubs.
The government, through the Cyprus Tourism Organization (CT0), which is a
semi-government organization responsible for the planning, promotion and
marketing of the tourist industry, and the island's hoteliers and other related
tourist professionals, worked hard for the reactivation of tourism in the free
areas of the Republic and the re-establishment of Cyprus on the world tourist
map. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism oversees the activities of
the Organization.
Overall Social Policy
The importance of an effective social services system has been especially
apparent in Cyprus since the Turkish invasion of 1974. The uprooting of a
quarter of the population created many social problems and increased the
dependence of vulnerable groups on the state. Initially, government policy
focused on meeting the basic survival requirements of refugees and others
through cash grants and aid in kind. Since then, it has gradually moved towards
providing long-term housing services, free secondary education, health services
and a wage-related social insurance scheme, scholarships and loans for needy
students to study abroad, infrastructural building such as new schools,
hospitals and various welfare institutions such as old people's homes, geriatric
centres, community welfare centres, children and youth homes, hostels and day
care centres.
The basic objectives of government social policy are:
·
To
secure a minimum acceptable standard of living for all citizens, especially for
those who do not participate - or participate to a limited extent - in the
productive process;
·
To
attain a more equitable distribution of the national income and of the tax
burden, both between different income groups and regions (special emphasis is
attached to improving the income position of refugees); and
·
To
implement and improve existing social programmes while preparing the
introduction of new programmes institutions and schemes.
Health
The standard of health of the Cypriot population compares favourably with that
of the population of developed countries.
Cyprus has been successfully freed of common infections and parasitic diseases
and the pattern of morbidity resembles that of developed industrial nations with
cardiovascular diseases, malignancies and car accidents predominating as the
causes of death. It should be pointed out that Cyprus has successfully
eliminated malaria in the past and more recently echinococciasis, through the
implementation of special campaigns. Current educational and preventive
programmes are proving successful in almost eliminating the incidence of
thalassaemia, which was a severe health problem.
Languages
Greek and Turkish are
the official languages. English is widely spoken. French and German are also
spoken within the tourism Industry.
For more information about Cyprus please follow the link