declared independence and the formation of a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for the resolution of intercommunal differences and creation of a new federal system of government
_#_Capital: Nicosia
_#_Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos
_#_Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)
_#_Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own Constitution and governing bodies within the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, which was renamed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983; a new Constitution for the Turkish area passed by referendum in May 1985
_#_Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications
_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October
_#_Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet); note—there is a president, prime minister, and Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish area
_#_Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon); note—there is a unicameral Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi) in the Turkish area
_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court; note—there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government—President George VASSILIOU (since February 1988); note—Rauf R. DENKTASH has been president of the Turkish area since 13 February 1975
_#_Political parties and leaders:
Greek Cypriot—Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL;
Communist Party), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS,
Democratic Rally (DESY), Glafcos CLERIDES;
Democratic Party (DEKO), Spyros KYPRIANOU;
United Democratic Union of the Center (EDEK), Vassos LYSSARIDES;
Socialist Democratic Renewal Movement (ADESOK), Pavlos DINGLIS, chairman;
Liberal Party, Nikos ROLANDIS;
Turkish area—National Unity Party (UBP), Dervis EROGLU;
Communal Liberation Party (TKP), Mustafa AKINCI;
Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Ozker OZGUR;
New Cyprus Party (NKP), Alpay DURDURAN;
New Dawn Party (YDP), Ali Ozkan ALTINISHIK;
Free Democratic Party, Ismet KOTAK; note—CTP, TKP, and YDP joined
in the coalition Democratic Struggle Party (DMP) for the 22 April
1990 legislative election
_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18
_#_Elections:
President—last held 14 February and 21 February 1988 (next to be held February 1993); results—George VASSILIOU 52%, Glafcos CLERIDES 48%;
House of Representatives—last held 8 December 1985 (next to be held 19 May 1991); results—DESY 33.56%, DEKO 27.65%, AKEL (Communist) 27.43%, EDEK 11.07%; seats—(56 total) DESY 19, DEKO 16, AKEL (Communist) 15, EDEK 6;
Turkish Area: President—last held 22 April 1990 (next to be held April 1995); results—Rauf R. DENKTASH 66%, Ismail BOZKURT 32.05%;
Turkish Area: Assembly of the Republic—last held 6 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results—UBP (conservative) about 55%, DMP NA%; seats—(50 total) UBP (conservative) 34, CTP (Communist) 7, TKP (center-right) 7, New Dawn Party 2
_#_Communists: about 12,000
_#_Other political or pressure groups: United Democratic Youth
Organization (EDON; Communist controlled); Union of Cyprus Farmers (EKA;
Communist controlled); Cyprus Farmers Union (PEK; pro-West); Pan-Cyprian
Labor Federation (PEO; Communist controlled); Confederation of Cypriot
Workers (SEK; pro-West); Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions
(Turk-Sen); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions (Dev-Is)
_#_Member of: C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Michael E. SHERIFIS; Chancery at 2211 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 462–5772; there is a Cypriot Consulate General in New York;
US—Ambassador Robert E. LAMB; Embassy at the corner of Therissos Street and Dositheos Street, Nicosia (mailing address is FPO New York 09530); telephone [357] (2) 4651511
_#_Flag: 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
_*Economy #_Overview: These data are for the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus (information on the northern Turkish-Cypriot area is sparse). The economy is small, diversified, and prosperous. Industry contributes about 25% to GDP and employs 35% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes about 55% to GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Rapid growth in exports of agricultural and manufactured products and in tourism have played important roles in the average 6% rise in GDP in recent years.
_#_GDP: $5.4 billion, per capita $7,960; real growth rate 5.5% (1990)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1990)
_#_Unemployment rate: below 2% (1990)
_#_Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $178 million (1989 est.)
_#_Exports: $770 million (f.o.b., 1990);
commodities—citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes;
partners—UK 23%, Greece 10%, Lebanon 9%, Saudi Arabia 4%
_#_Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990);
commodities—consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery;
partners—France 12%, UK 11%, Japan 11%, Italy 10%
_#_External debt: $2.2 billion (1990)
_#_Industrial production: growth rate 6.5%
