|
|
|
Background:
|
A former
British colony, Cyprus received independence in 1960
following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions
between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot
minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence
broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the
deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic
intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish
Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a
Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met
by military intervention from Turkey, which soon
controlled more than a third 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 settlement 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. EU laws, however, will not apply to north
Cyprus. Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to
establish direct trade and economic links to north
Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish Cypriot
community to continue to support reunification. |
|
Location:
|
Middle
East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
|
|
Geographic coordinates:
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35 00 N,
33 00 E |
|
Map references:
|
Middle
East |
|
Area:
|
total:
9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)
land: 9,240 sq km
water: 10 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
about 0.6
times the size of Connecticut |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total:
NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being resurveyed
border countries: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia NA
|
|
Coastline:
|
648 km
|
|
Maritime claims:
|
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation |
|
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 |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest
point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
copper,
pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay
earth pigment |
|
Land use:
|
arable
land: 7.79%
permanent crops: 4.44%
other: 87.77% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
382 sq km
(2001 est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
moderate
earthquake activity; droughts |
|
Environment - current 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 wildlife habitats
from urbanization |
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party
to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
|
Geography - note:
|
the third
largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily
and Sardinia) |
|
Population:
|
780,133
(July 2005 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14
years: 20.9% (male 83,256/female 79,701)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 267,446/female 260,846)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 38,766/female
50,118) (2005 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total:
34.68 years
male: 33.64 years
female: 35.7 years (2005 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
0.54%
(2005 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
12.57
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
7.64
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
0.43
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total:
7.18 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
|
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total
population: 77.65 years
male: 75.29 years
female: 80.13 years (2005 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.83
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.1%
(2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
less than
1,000 (1999 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
NA |
|
Nationality:
|
noun:
Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Greek
77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001) |
|
Religions:
|
Greek
Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic,
and other 4% |
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Languages:
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Greek,
Turkish, English |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2003 est.) |
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot community (north
Cyprus) refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) |
|
Government type:
|
republic
note: a separation of the two ethnic communities
inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of
communal strife in 1963; this separation was further
solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974
that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gave
the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north;
Greek Cypriots control the only internationally
recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish
Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence
and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey |
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Capital:
|
Nicosia
|
|
Administrative divisions:
|
6
districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol,
Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's
administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a
small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosia
(Nicosia) and Larnaca |
|
Independence:
|
16 August
1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed
self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983,
but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey
|
|
National holiday:
|
Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish
Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence
Day |
|
Constitution:
|
16 August
1960; from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer
participated in the government; negotiations to create
the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern
the island and for better relations between Greek and
Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently since the
mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974 Turkish
intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own
constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish
Federated State of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus" when the Turkish Cypriots
declared their independence in 1983; a new constitution
for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5 May 1985 |
|
Legal system:
|
based on
common law, with civil law modifications |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years
of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief
of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1
March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government; post of vice president is
currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post
is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS
(since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government; post of vice
president is currently vacant; under the 1960
constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly
by the president and vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for
a five-year term; election last held 16 February 2003
(next to be held February 2008)
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected
president; percent of vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%,
Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6%
note: Mehmet Ali TALAT becomes "president" of
north Cyprus, 24 April 2005, after "presidential"
elections on 17 April 2005; results - Mehmet Ali TALAT
55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is "prime
minister"; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in
north Cyprus, appointed by the "prime minister" |
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral - Republic of Cyprus: House of
Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56
assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots;
note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms); north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic or
Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Republic of Cyprus: last held 27 May
2001 (next to be held May 2006); north Cyprus: last held
14 December 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)
election results: Republic of Cyprus: House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL
34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS 6.51%, others
9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19,
DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; north Cyprus: Assembly of the
Republic - percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP
32.3%, Peace and Democratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%;
seats by party - CTP 19, UBP 18, Peace and Democratic
Movement 6, DP 7 |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme
Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and
vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in north
Cyprus |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos
PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos
ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos
MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS];
New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of
the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios
CHRISTOFIAS]; Social Democrats Movement or KISOS
(formerly United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK) [Yiannakis
OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement or EDE [George
VASSILIOU]; north Cyprus: Democratic Party or DP [Serder
DENKTASH]; National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN];
National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party
or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH
[Alpay DURDURAN]; Peace and Democratic Movement [Mustafa
AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI
TALAT] |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West);
Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is;
Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen;
Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist
controlled) |
|
International organization participation:
|
Australia
Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG,
OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer affiliate),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief
of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot
community in the US is Osman ERTUG; office at 1667 K
Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198
|
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
chief
of mission: Ambassador Michael KLOSSON
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou
Streets, Engomi, 2407 Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
FAX: [357] (22) 780944 |
|
Flag description:
|
white
with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name
Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above
two green crossed olive branches in the center of the
flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and
reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities
note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"
flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom
between which is a red crescent and red star on a white
field |
|
Economy - overview:
|
The Greek
Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to
external shocks. The service sector, mainly tourism and
financial services, dominates the economy; erratic
growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's
reliance on tourism, which often fluctuates with
political instability in the region and economic
conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused
on meeting the criteria to join the European Exchange
Rate Mechanism (ERM2) within the next two years although
sluggish tourism and poor fiscal management have
resulted in growing budget deficits since 2001. As in
the Turkish sector, water shortages are a perennial
problem; a few desalination plants are now on-line.
After 10 years of drought, the country received
substantial rainfall from 2001-03, alleviating immediate
concerns. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly
one-third of the per capita GDP of the south, and
economic growth tends to be volatile, given north
Cyprus's relative isolation, bloated public sector,
reliance on the Turkish lira, and small market size. The
Turkish Cypriot economy grew 2.6% in 2004, fueled by
growth in the construction and education sectors as well
as increased employment of Turkish Cypriots in the
Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots are heavily
dependent on transfers from the Turkish government.
Ankara provides around $300 million a year directly into
the "TRNC" budget and regularly provides additional
financing for large infrastructure projects. Agriculture
and government service, together employ almost half of
the work force, and the potential for tourism is
promising, especially with the easing of border
restrictions with the Greek Cypriots in April 2003. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
Republic
of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $15.71 billion
north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $4.54 billion
(2004 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 3.2% north Cyprus: 2.6% (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $20,300 (2004
est.); north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $7,135
(2004 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 4.1%; industry
19.9%; services 76%
north Cyprus: agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%;
services 68.9% (2004) |
|
Labor force:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 330,000, north Cyprus: 95,025 (2004 est.)
|
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 4.9%, industry
19.4%, services 75.6%
north Cyprus: agriculture 15.1%, industry 27%,
services 57.9% (2003 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 3.2%; north Cyprus: 5.6% (2004 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
NA% |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest
10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 2.4% (2003 est.); north Cyprus: 12.6% (2003
est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed):
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 17.9% of GDP (2004 est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: Republic of Cyprus - $5.616 billion (2004
est.), north Cyprus - $404.3 million (2003 est.)
expenditures: Republic of Cyprus - $685.7
million, including capital expenditures of $685.7
million, north Cyprus - $775.7 million, including
capital expenditures of $91.4 million (2004 est.) |
|
Public debt:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 74.9% of GDP (2004 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
citrus,
vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables, poultry,
pork, lamb, kids, dairy, cheese |
|
Industries:
|
tourism,
food and beverage processing; cement and gypsum
production; ship repair and refurbishment; textiles;
light chemicals; metal products; wood, paper, stone, and
clay products |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 0.4% (2002); north Cyprus: -0.3% (2002) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
4 billion
kWh; north Cyprus: NA kWh (2003) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil
fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 3.663 billion kWh (2003); north Cyprus: 602
million kWh (2003) |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
0 kWh
(2002) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
0 kWh
(2002) |
|
Oil - production:
|
300
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - exports:
|
NA |
|
Oil - imports:
|
NA |
|
Current account balance:
|
$-619.9
million (2004 est.) |
|
Exports:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: $1.094 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus: $49.3
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement,
clothing and cigarettes; north Cyprus: citrus, potatoes,
textiles |
|
Exports - partners:
|
UK 27.2%,
Greece 11.9%, Germany 5%, UAE 4.8% (2004) |
|
Imports:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: $5.258 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus: $415.2
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants,
intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment;
north Cyprus: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food,
minerals, chemicals, machinery |
|
Imports - partners:
|
Greece
15.2%, Italy 10.5%, Germany 8.9%, UK 8.6%, France 6.3%,
Japan 4.7%, Israel 4.4%, China 4% (2004) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
Republic of Cyprus: $3.385 billion
north Cyprus: $941.6 million (2004 est.) |
|
Debt - external:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: $7.327 billion; north Cyprus: $NA (2004 est.)
|
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
Republic
of Cyprus - $17 million (1998); north Cyprus - $700
million from Turkey in grants and loans, which are
usually forgiven (2003) |
|
Currency (code):
|
Greek
Cypriot area: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area:
Turkish lira (TRL) |
|
Currency code:
|
CYP; TRL
|
|
Exchange rates:
|
Cypriot
pounds per US dollar - 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003),
0.6107 (2002), 0.6431 (2001), 0.6224 (2000), Turkish
lira per US dollar 1.426 million (2004), 1.501 million
(2003), 1.507 million (2002), 1.226 million (2001),
625,200 (2000) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar
year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 427,400 (2002); north Cyprus: 86,228 (2002)
|
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 417,900 (2002); north Cyprus: 143,178 (2002)
|
|
Telephone system:
|
general assessment: excellent in both Republic of
Cyprus and north Cyprus areas
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and
microwave radio relay
international: country code - 357; tropospheric
scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic submarine cables;
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1
Arabsat |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); north
Cyprus: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998) |
|
Radios:
|
Greek
Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area:
56,450 (1994) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
Republic
of Cyprus: 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September
1995); north Cyprus: 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September
1995) |
|
Televisions:
|
Greek
Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area:
52,300 (1994) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.cy |
|
Internet hosts:
|
5,901
(2004) |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
6 (2000)
|
|
Internet users:
|
210,000
(2002) |
|
Highways:
|
total:
13,943 km (Republic of Cyprus: 11,593 km; north Cyprus:
2,350 km)
paved: Republic of Cyprus: 7,211 km; north
Cyprus: 1,370 km
unpaved: Republic of Cyprus: 4,382 km; north
Cyprus: 980 km (2002/1996 est.) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total:
972 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 22,016,374 GRT/35,760,004
DWT
by type: bulk carrier 384, cargo 248, chemical
tanker 45, container 125, liquefied gas 4, passenger 8,
passenger/cargo 19, petroleum tanker 103, refrigerated
cargo 19, roll on/roll off 12, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 899 (Austria 2, Belgium 1, Canada
10, China 8, Croatia 3, Cuba 5, Egypt 1, Estonia 3,
France 1, Germany 236, Greece 396, Hong Kong 2, India 2,
Iran 2, Israel 3, Japan 18, Latvia 7, Monaco 1,
Netherlands 12, Norway 14, Philippines 1, Poland 20,
Portugal 2, Russia 56, Singapore 2, Slovenia 4, South
Korea 1, Spain 4, Sweden 6, Switzerland 4, Syria 2,
Ukraine 3, UAE 11, United Kingdom 24, United States 31,
Vietnam 1)
registered in other countries: 54 (2005) |
|
Airports:
|
17 (2004
est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total:
13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total:
4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
|
Heliports:
|
10 (2004
est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard
(GCNG; includes air and naval elements)
north Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot Security Force
(GKK) |
|
Military service age and obligation:
|
18 years
of age (2004) |
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 184,352 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 150,750 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
|
males:
6,578 (2005 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$384
million (FY02) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
3.8%
(FY02) |
|
Disputes - international:
|
hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto
autonomous entities, the internationally recognized
Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community
(north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force
in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and
maintains the buffer zone between north and south; March
2003 reunification talks failed, but Turkish-Cypriots
later opened their borders to temporary visits by Greek
Cypriots; on 24 April 2004, the Greek Cypriot and
Turkish Cypriot communities voted in simultaneous and
parallel referenda on whether to approve the UN-brokered
Annan Plan that would have ended the thirty-year
division of the island by establishing a new "United
Cyprus Republic," a majority of Greek Cypriots voted
"no"; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the European Union
still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and
standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north
|
|
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
|
IDPs:
265,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced
for over 30 years) (2004) |
|
Illicit drugs:
|
minor
transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and
container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and
Turkey; some cocaine transits as well; despite a
strengthening of anti-money-laundering legislation,
remains highly vulnerable to money laundering;
identification of benefiting owners and reporting of
suspicious transactions by nonresident-controlled
companies in offshore sector remains weak |
|
This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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