THE GEOGRAPHY (Foreign Office UK)
The northern part of the island refers
to itself as the 'Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus' ('TRNC'), but is not
internationally recognised.
Area: 9,250 sq km (3,572 sq mi). 3,355
sq km are controlled by the 'TRNC'
Population: 754,064
Capital city: Nicosia (Lefkosia /
Lefkosa) (population: 195,000)
People: Greek Cypriot (78%), Turkish
Cypriot (18%), Maronites, Latins (4%)
Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
Religions: Greek Orthodox (78%),
Muslim (18%), Maronite, Armenian
Apostolic, and other (4%)
Currency: Cyprus pound (Cú=100
cents). (Turkish Lira in the 'TRNC')
Major Political Parties: Restorative
Party of the Working People (AKEL),
Democratic Rally (DESY), Democratic
Party (DEKO), United Democratic
Union of Cyprus (KISOS), United
Democrats Movement (EDI)
'TRNC' political parties: National Unity
Party (UBP); Democratic Party (DP);
Communal Liberation Party (TKP);
Republican Turkish Party (CTP).
Government: Presidential Republic. The
President serves a five-year term,
and exercises executive power through
a Council of Ministers appointed by him.
The Legislature comprises of one
80-member House of Representatives,
elected for a five-year term, although
24 seats reserved for Turkish Cypriot
MPs are currently vacant.
GEOGRAPHY
Cyprus is the third largest island in the
Mediterranean, situated 60 km south of
Turkey and 300 km north of Egypt. It
has two mountain ranges û the
Pentadaktylos range (max height 1,042
m) along the north coast and the
Troodos massif (Mt Olympus 1,953 m)
in the central and south-western parts
of the island. Between the two ranges
lies the plain of Messaoria. Climate is
Mediterranean û hot, dry summers
and changeable winters.
The Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) are
sovereign British territory and cover
98 square miles of the island of
Cyprus. The SBAs are purely military
in nature. They are run by the SBA
Administration and have their own
legislation, police force and courts.
They are very closely linked with the
Republic of Cyprus with whom they
are in a customs and currency union.
THE HISTORY (Foreign Office UK)
Recent History
Under the 1878 Convention of
Defensive Alliance between Britain and
Turkey, Britain took over the
administration of Cyprus from Turkey,
although Turkey retained formal
sovereignty. In 1914, when Turkey
entered the First World War on the
side of the Central Powers, Britain
annexed Cyprus. British sovereignty
was recognised by Turkey under the
terms of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne
and Cyprus became a Crown Colony in
1925.
Following independence in 1960, tension
between the Greek and Turkish
Cypriots increased and culminated in
serious intercommunal fighting in
December 1963. From then until 1974
there were occasional outbreaks of
further violence and the Turkish
Cypriot minority retreated into small
enclaves. A UN force was established
in 1964. In 1974 Turkish troops landed
in northern Cyprus following a coup on
the island by extremists against the
elected President, which was backed
by the military junta then in power in
Greece. The island has been effectively
partitioned ever since and
approximately 36% of the territory of
the Republic is not under the control of
the Government.
A 'Green Line' û a buffer zone dividing
the two parts from the coast north
west of Morphou through Nicosia to
Famagusta - is patrolled by United
Nations troops. Successive UN
Secretaries-General have made
efforts to secure a settlement to the
Cyprus dispute through intercommunal
talks.
In 1983 the Turkish Cypriots announced
the establishment of the 'Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus' ('TRNC').
In common with the rest of the
international community, apart from
Turkey, Britain does not recognise any
state in Cyprus other than the Republic
of Cyprus.
THE ECONOMY (Foreign Office UK)
Basic Economic Facts
GDP: $8.8 billion (2000)
GNP per head: $13,900 (2000 est)
Annual growth: 5.1% (2000)
Inflation: 4.1% (2000)
Major Industries: tourism, food,
beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal
products, wood products
Major Trading Partners: UK, US, Italy,
Germany, Greece, Russia, Bulgaria
Exchange Rate: 1GBP=0.9Cyú
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Relations with Neighbours
Greece and Turkey, along with the UK,
became joint Guarantor Powers of the
Republic of Cyprus through the Treaty
of Guarantee (1960).
Both Greece and Turkey play an
important role in Cyprus and relations
with these two countries dominate
Cypriot politics. The continued division
of Cyprus means that relations can be
tense, although they are improving.
Relations with the International
Community
At the December 2002 Copenhagen
European Council, Cyprus was formally
invited to join the EU. Cyprus signed
the Treaty of Accession on 16 April,
and will become a full member of the
EU on 1 May 2004.
The UK's aim, and that of the EU, is
for a reunited island to accede to the
EU. However, the EU confirmed at the
Helsinki European Council in 1999 that a
settlement to the Cyprus problem is
not a pre-condition for accession. It did
however underline that a settlement
would facilitate Cyprus' EU accession
and that the EU would decide on
Cyprus' accession taking into account
all relevant factors. The EU strongly
supports the UN talks process. This
position was reiterated in the recent
Copenhagen, Brussels and Thessaloniki
Conclusions.
More on Enlarging the EU...
CYPRUS' RELATIONS WITH THE UK
Former UK Special Representative for
Cyprus
Lord Hannay, a former British
Permanent Representative to the EU
and UN, was appointed British
GovernmentÆs Representative for
Cyprus in May 1996. The appointment
built on the UKÆs long-standing
efforts to achieve a resolution of the
Cyprus problem. It reflected the
GovernmentÆs belief that a concerted
effort was needed to make progress
towards a settlement. Lord HannayÆs
experience of multilateral diplomacy
and conflict resolution, of the EU and
the UN, was a valuable asset in the
Cyprus context.
He undertook detailed contacts in
Nicosia, Athens and Ankara, as well as
with all countries that take an interest
in resolving the Cyprus problem. He
worked closely with the UN
Secretary-General and the UN Special
Representative, and with the US and
EU Member States and the
Commission. His aim was to help find
areas of agreement between the two
communities and help push forward the
negotiation of an overall settlement.
However, as the UK agrees with and
fully supports the position of the UN
Secretary-General, that he should not
take any new initiatives until both sides
show their political willingness to
return to the UN plan, the Foreign
Secretary, at Lord Hannays
recommendation, took the decision not
to renew Lord HannayÆs contract at
the end of May
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