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 About Cyprus |
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Traditionally the birthplace of Aphrodite, the ancient goddess of love, the Republic of Cyprus is a Mediterranean island that enjoys snow-capped mountains, peaceful seaside villages, terraced vineyards, citrus orchards, and gleaming white-sand beaches.
Due to its location, Cyprus has long been a bridge between West and East. By 3700 BCE, the island was well inhabited, and successively subjected to Assyrian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and Roman domination. For 800 years, from the fourth century CE, Cyprus was ruled by Byzantium. After brief possession during the Crusades by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, the island came under control of the Franks in the late 12th century. It was ceded to the Venetian Republic in 1489, and conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1571.
The Ottomans applied the millet system to Cyprus, allowing religious authorities to govern their own non-Muslim minorities. Reinforcing the position of the Orthodox Church in Cyprus, the millet system also served to unify the ethnic Greek population. Most of the Turks who settled on the island during the three centuries of Ottoman rule remained when control of Cyprus, although not sovereignty, was ceded to Great Britain in 1878. However, during the 1920s, many Turks returned to Turkey. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the island was annexed formally by the United Kingdom, and in 1925, Cyprus became a crown colony.
Cyprus gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and established a constitutional republic in 1960, after an anti-British campaign by the Greek Cypriot EOKA (National Organization of Cypriot Fighters), a guerrilla group that desired political union with Greece.
Shortly after the founding of the republic, serious differences arose between the Greek and Turkish communities about the implementation and interpretation of the constitution. The Greek Cypriots argued that mechanisms introduced to protect Turkish Cypriot interests were obstacles to efficient government. A series of constitutional amendments designed to eliminate some of these mechanisms were advanced, but the Turkish Cypriots opposed them. Widespread fighting broke out in December 1963, after which Turkish Cypriots ceased to participate in the government. Following the outbreak of the violence, many Turkish Cypriots and some Greek Cypriots living in mixed villages, began to move into enclaved villages or elsewhere. UN peacekeepers were deployed on the island in 1964. Following another outbreak of intercommunal violence in 1967-68, a Turkish Cypriot provisional administration was formed.
Since 1974, the country has been divided de facto into the government-controlled two-thirds of the island, and the remaining one-third of the island, administered by Turkish Cypriots. UN peacekeeping forces have maintained a buffer zone between the two sides. Except for occasional demonstrations or infrequent incidents between soldiers in the buffer zone, the island was free of violent conflict from 1974 until August 1996, when violent clashes led to the death of two demonstrators, and escalated tension. The situation has been quiet since 1996.
Travel restrictions between the two sides of the island were partially lifted in April 2003, and there has been much movement back and forth without significant interethnic incidents. In August 2004, new EU rules allowed goods produced in the north to be sold in the south provided they met EU rule of origin and sanitary/phyto-sanitary requirements. In May 2005, the Turkish Cypriot authorities adopted a new regulation mirroring the EU rules, and allowing certain goods produced in the south to be sold in the north. Despite these efforts, direct trade between the two communities remains very limited.
Along with the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, the Republic of Cyprus entered the EU on May 1, 2004. The EU’s acquis communautaire is suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots pending settlement of the island’s division. |
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Location |
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Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean sea. Located in the eastern part of the Sea, Cyprus is the Mediterranean’s third largest island. In the center of the island the Troodos Mountains rise to almost 6400 feet (1952 meters). |
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Population |
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About one million people live in Cyprus, of which about three-fourths are ethnically Greek. Over 20% of the people are ethnically Turkish, and the remainder are of Armenian origin and others. Greek and Turkish Cypriots share many customs, but maintain distinct identities based on religion, language, and close ties with their respective homelands.
The religions observed in Cyprus include mainly Greek Orthodox, Islam, Maronite, Roman Catholic, and Armenian Orthodox. |
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Language |
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The major languages spoken in Cyprus are Greek, Turkish, and English. Greek is predominantly spoken in the south, and Turkish in the north. Approximately 80% of the population speak Greek, with a Greek Cypriot dialect that is different from mainland Greek. About 20% of the population speak Turkish.
English is widely spoken, and German and French are also spoken in tourist centers. |
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Education |
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Cyprus has a well-developed system of primary and secondary education, with nine years of compulsory education, and a literacy rate of about 99%. There are several English speaking schools in the country.
The majority of Cypriots receive their higher education at Greek, Turkish, British, and other European or American universities. The Turkish and Greek communities have private colleges and state-supported universities. |
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Weather |
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Cyprus enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Inland temperatures in the summer can reach to around 105F (40C), but higher altitudes and the seacoast are cooler. In the winter, temperatures average between 42 and 59F (5 and 15C). |
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Money and Cost of Living |
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The Cypriots are among the most prosperous people in the Mediterranean region. In addition, in comparison to other countries that offer “Mediterranean life styles,” like Spain, Portugal, and Greece, Cyprus is inexpensive.
For most of the year, banking hours are generally Mon-Fri 0815-1230 and Mon 1515-1645. Certain central banks may also be open Tues-Fri in the afternoon. In the summer months of June, July, and August, banking hours are Mon-Fri 0830-1230. |
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Currency |
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The currency in Cyprus is the Cyprus Pound (CYP; symbol C£) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of C£20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. |
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Health |
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Health insurance is recommended. In general, the standard of health facilities is good. English-speaking personnel is on duty in the emergency departments of hospitals. For people from the EU, health care is provided on the same basis as for a Cypriot national, at any of the Government Medical Institutions. It should be noted that a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid in the north (Turkish part) of Cyprus.
Immunization against Hepatitis A is recommended.
Milk is pasteurized and tap water is generally safe to drink. Powdered and canned milk are available. Eat only well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. |
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Weights and Measures |
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Cyprus uses the metric system, with units measured in grams and kilograms, and milliliters and liters. |
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Electricity |
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Cyprus uses 240V and 50Hz electricity with G plugs, the rectangular blade type. |
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