Cyprus: Difference between revisions
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|national_anthem = ''Ýmnos eis tīn Eleutherían''<br />(Ὕμνος εἰς τὴν Ἐλευθερίαν)<br />[[Hymn to Liberty]]<sup>1</sup><ref name="Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus - The National Anthem">{{Cite web|url=http://www.presidency.gov.cy/presidency/presidency.nsf/prc34_en/prc34_en?OpenDocument|title=Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus - The National Anthem|accessdate=15 February 2011}}</ref> |
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|national_anthem = ''Ὕμνος εἰς τὴν Ἐλευθερίαν'' <small>([[Greek language|Greek]])</small> [[Hymn to Liberty]]<sup>1</sup><br/>''İlahi özgürlük için'' <small>([[Turkish language|Turkish]])</small>{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} |
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|official_languages =[[Greek language|Greek]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]]<ref name=languages>[http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/portal/portal.nsf/0/302578ad62e1ea3ac2256fd5003b61d4?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=3#_Section3 Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus]: "The official languages of the Republic are Greek and Turkish" (Appendix D, Part 01, Article 3)</ref> |
|official_languages =[[Greek language|Greek]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]]<ref name=languages>[http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/portal/portal.nsf/0/302578ad62e1ea3ac2256fd5003b61d4?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=3#_Section3 Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus]: "The official languages of the Republic are Greek and Turkish" (Appendix D, Part 01, Article 3)</ref> |
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|demonym = [[Cypriot]], [[Greek Cypriot]], [[Turkish Cypriot]] |
|demonym = [[Cypriot]], [[Greek Cypriot]], [[Turkish Cypriot]] |
Revision as of 22:09, 14 February 2011
Republic of Cyprus | |
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Anthem: Ýmnos eis tīn Eleutherían (Ὕμνος εἰς τὴν Ἐλευθερίαν) Hymn to Liberty1[1] | |
![]() Location of Cyprus (green) in the European Union (light green) – [Legend] | |
Capital and largest city | Nicosia (Λευκωσία, Lefkoşa) |
Official languages | Greek, Turkish[2] |
Ethnic groups | 77% Greek, 18% Turkish, 5% other (2001 est.)[3] |
Demonym(s) | Cypriot, Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot |
Government | Presidential republic |
Dimitris Christofias | |
Independence from the United Kingdom | |
19 February 1959 | |
• Proclaimed | 16 August 1960 |
Area | |
• Total | 9,248 km2 (3,571 sq mi) (167th) |
• Water (%) | negligible |
Population | |
• 2010 estimate | 803,147 [4]![]() |
• Density | 117/km2 (303.0/sq mi) (85th) |
GDP (PPP) | 2010 estimate |
• Total | $22.745 billion[5] |
• Per capita | $27,713[5]![]() |
GDP (nominal) | 2010 estimate |
• Total | $23.291 billion[5] |
• Per capita | $28,378[5] |
Gini (2005) | 29 low inequality (19th) |
HDI (2010) | ![]() Error: Invalid HDI value (35th) |
Currency | Euro2 (EUR) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Drives on | left |
Calling code | 357 |
ISO 3166 code | CY |
Internet TLD | .cy3 |
|
Cyprus (/[invalid input: 'En-us-Cyprus.ogg']ˈsaɪprəs/; Greek: Κύπρος, Kýpros, IPA: [ˈcipros]; Turkish: Kıbrıs, IPA: [kɯbɾɯs] – officially the Republic of Cyprus (Greek: Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία, Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía, IPA: [cipriaˈci ðimokraˈtia]; Turkish: Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti, IPA: [kɯbɾɯs dʒumhuɾijeti]); – is a Eurasian island country in the Eastern Mediterranean,[7][8] south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of its most popular tourist destinations.[9] An advanced,[10] high-income economy with a very high Human Development Index,[11][12] the Republic of Cyprus was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement until it joined the European Union on 1 May 2004.[13][14]
The earliest known human activity on the island dates back to around the 10th millennium BC. Archaeological remains from this period include the well-preserved Neolithic village of Choirokoitia (also known as Khirokitia), which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, along with the Tombs of the Kings. Cyprus is home to some of the oldest water wells in the world,[15] and is the site of the earliest known example of feline domestication.[16][17] As a strategic location in the Middle East,[18][19][20][21] Cyprus has been occupied by several major powers, including the empires of the Hittites, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Rashiduns, Umayyads, Lusignans, Venetians and Ottomans. Settled by Mycenean Greeks in the 2nd millennium BC, the island also experienced long periods of Greek "rule" under the homogeneous Ptolemies and the Byzantines. In 333 B.C., Alexander the Great liberated the island from the Persians. The Ottoman Empire conquered the island in 1571 and it remained under Ottoman control for over three centuries. It was placed under British administration in 1878 until it was granted independence in 1960,[22] becoming a member of the Commonwealth the following year.
In 1974, following 11 years of intercommunal violence[23] and an attempted coup d'état by Greek Cypriot nationalists,[24][25] Turkey invaded and occupied the northern portion of the island. The intercommunal violence and subsequent Turkish invasion led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Cypriots and the establishment of a separate Turkish Cypriot political entity in the north. These events and the resulting political situation are matters of ongoing dispute.
The Republic of Cyprus has de jure sovereignty over the entire island of Cyprus and its surrounding waters except small portions, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, that are allocated by treaty to the United Kingdom as sovereign military bases. The Republic of Cyprus is de facto partitioned into two main parts; the area under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus, comprising about 59% of the island's area, and the Turkish-controlled area in the north,[26] calling itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, covering about 36% of the island's area and recognized only by Turkey.
Etymology
The etymology of the Greek name Kypros is unknown. Suggestions include:
- the Greek word for the Mediterranean cypress tree (Cupressus sempervirens), κυπάρισσος (kypárissos)
- the Greek name of the henna plant (Lawsonia alba), κύπρος (kýpros)
- an Eteocypriot word for copper. Georges Dossin, for example, suggests that it has roots in the Sumerian word for copper (zubar) or for bronze (kubar), from the large deposits of copper ore found on the island.
The earliest attested reference to Cyprus is the Mycenaean Greek ku-pi-ri-jo, meaning "Cypriot", written in Linear B syllabic script.[27]
Through overseas trade, the island has given its name to the Classical Latin word for copper through the phrase aes Cyprium, "metal of Cyprus", later shortened to Cuprum.[28] Cyprus, more specifically the shores of Paphos, was also one of the birthplaces of Aphrodite given in Greek mythology, who was known as Kupria, since according to Phoenician mythology, Astarte, goddess of love and beauty, who was later identified with the Aphrodite.
The standard demonym relating to Cyprus or its people or culture is Cypriot. The terms Cypriote and Cyprian are also, less frequently, used.
History
Ancient times
The earliest confirmed site of human activity on Cyprus is Aetokremnos, situated on the south coast, indicating that hunter-gatherers were active on the island from around 10,000 BC,[29] with settled village communities dating from 8200 BC. The arrival of the first humans correlates with the extinction of the dwarf hippos and dwarf elephants.[30] Water wells discovered by archaeologists in western Cyprus are believed to be among the oldest in the world, dated at 9,000 to 10,500 years old.[15]
Remains of an 8-month-old cat were discovered buried with its human owner at a separate Neolithic site in Cyprus.[16] The grave is estimated to be 9,500 years old, predating ancient Egyptian civilization and pushing back the earliest known feline-human association significantly.[17] The remarkably well-preserved Neolithic village of Choirokoitia (also known as Khirokitia) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating to approximately 6800 BC.[31]
The island was part of the Hittite empire during the late Bronze Age until the arrival of two waves of Greek settlement.[32] The first wave consisted of Mycenaean Greek traders who started visiting Cyprus around 1400 BC. A major wave of Greek settlement is believed to have taken place following the Bronze Age collapse of Mycenaean Greece in the period 1100–1050 BC, with the island's predominantly Greek character dating from this period.[33][34] Cyprus occupies an important role in Greek mythology being the birthplace of Aphrodite and Adonis, and home to King Cinyras, Teucer and Pygmalion.[35] Beginning in the 8th century BC Phoenician colonies were founded on the south coast of Cyprus, near present day Larnaca and Salamis.[33]
Cyprus was ruled by Assyria for a century starting in 708 BC, before a brief spell under Egyptian rule and eventually Persian rule in 545 BC.[33] The Cypriots, led by Onesilos, king of Salamis, joined their fellow Greeks in the Ionian cities during the unsuccessful Ionian Revolt in 499 BC against the Achaemenid Empire. The revolt was suppressed without bloodshed, although Cyprus managed to maintain a high degree of autonomy and remained oriented towards the Greek world.[33]
The island was brought under permanent Greek rule by Alexander the Great and the Ptolemies of Egypt following his death. Full Hellenization took place during the Ptolemaic period, which ended when Cyprus was annexed by the Roman Republic in 58 BC.
Middle Ages
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Portrait_of_Caterina_Coronaro_1542_uffizi_florence_Titian.jpg/180px-Portrait_of_Caterina_Coronaro_1542_uffizi_florence_Titian.jpg)
When the Roman Empire was divided into Eastern and Western parts in 395, Cyprus became part of the East Roman, or Byzantine Empire, and would remain part of it until the crusades some 800 years later. Under Byzantine rule, the Greek orientation that had been prominent since antiquity developed the strong Hellenistic-Christian character that continues to be a hallmark of the Greek Cypriot community.[33] Beginning in 649, Cyprus suffered from devastating raids launched from the Levant, which continued for the next 300 years.[33] Many were quick piratical raids, but others were large-scale attacks in which many Cypriots were slaughtered and great wealth carried off or destroyed.[33]
No Byzantine churches survive from this period, thousands of people were killed, and many cities – such as Salamis - were destroyed and never rebuilt.[33] Byzantine rule was restored in 965, when Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas scored decisive victories on land and sea.[33] In 1191, during the Third Crusade, Richard I of England captured the island from Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus[36] He used it as a major supply base that was relatively safe from the Saracens. A year later Richard sold the island to the Knights Templar, who, following a bloody revolt, in turn sold it to Guy of Lusignan. His brother and successor Amalric was recognized as King of Cyprus by Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor.[33]
Following the death in 1473 of James II, the last Lusignan king, the Republic of Venice assumed control of the island, while his Venetian widow, Queen Caterina Cornaro, reigned as figurehead. Venice formally annexed Cyprus in 1489, following the abdication of Caterina.[33] The Venetians fortified Nicosia by building the famous Venetian Walls, and used it as an important commercial hub. Throughout Venetian rule, the Ottoman Empire frequently raided Cyprus. In 1539 the Ottomans destroyed Limassol and so fearing the worst, the Venetians also fortified Famagusta and Kyrenia.[33]
During the almost four centuries of Latin rule, there existed two societies on Cyprus. The first consisted of Frankish nobles and their retinue, as well as Italian merchants and their families. The second, the majority of the population, consisted of Greek Cypriots serfs and laborers. Although a determined effort was made to supplant native traditions and culture, the effort failed.[33]
Ottoman Empire
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Cyprus_by_Piri_Reis.jpg/220px-Cyprus_by_Piri_Reis.jpg)
In 1570, a full scale Ottoman assault with 60,000 troops brought the island under Ottoman control, despite stiff resistance by the inhabitants of Nicosia and Famagusta. 20,000 Nicosians were put to death, and every church, public building, and palace was looted.[37] The previous Latin elite was destroyed and the first significant demographic change since antiquity took place when Ottoman Janissaries were settled on the island.[24]
The Ottomans abolished the feudal system previously in place and applied the millet system to Cyprus, under which non-Muslim peoples were governed by their own religious authorities. In a reversal from the days of Latin rule, the head of the Church of Cyprus was invested as leader of the Greek Cypriot population and acted as mediator between Christian Greek Cypriots and the Ottoman authorities.[37] Ottoman rule of Cyprus was at times indifferent, at times oppressive, depending on the temperaments of the sultans and local officials, and during this period the island fell into economic decline.[37]
Reaction to Ottoman misrule led to uprisings by both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, although none were successful. By 1872, the population of the island had risen to 144,000 comprising 44,000 Muslims and 100,000 Christians.[38] Centuries of neglect by the Turks, the unrelenting poverty of most of the people, and the ever-present tax collectors fuelled Greek nationalism, and by 19th century the idea of enosis, or union, with newly independent Greece was firmly rooted among Greek Cypriots.[37]
British Empire
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Hosting_the_British_flag_at_Nicosia.jpg/200px-Hosting_the_British_flag_at_Nicosia.jpg)
In the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), administration, but not sovereignty, of the island was ceded to the British Empire in 1878 in exchange for guarantees that Britain would use the island as a base to protect the Ottoman Empire against possible Russian aggression.[33] The island would serve Britain as a key military base in its colonial routes. By 1906, when the Famagusta harbour was completed, Cyprus was a strategic naval outpost overlooking the Suez Canal, the crucial main route to India which was then Britain's most important colony. Following the outbreak of The First World War and the entry of the Ottoman Empire on the side of the Central powers, Great Britain formally annexed the island in 1914.[33]
In 1915, Britain offered Cyprus to Constantine I of Greece on condition that Greece join the war on the side of the British, which he declined. In 1923, under the Treaty of Lausanne, the nascent Turkish republic relinquished any claim to Cyprus and in 1925 it was declared a British Crown Colony.[33] Many Greek Cypriots fought in the British Army during both World Wars, in the hope that Cyprus would eventually be united with Greece.[39] During the Second World War many enlisted in the Cyprus Regiment.
In January 1959, the Church of Cyprus organized a referendum, which was boycotted by the Turkish Cypriot community, where over 90%[clarification needed] voted in favor of "enosis", meaning union with Greece.[40][41] Restricted autonomy under a constitution was proposed by the British administration but eventually rejected. In 1955 the EOKA organisation was founded, seeking independence and union with Greece through armed struggle. At the same time the TMT, calling for Taksim, or partition, was established by the Turkish Cypriots as a counterweight.[42] Turmoil on the island was met with force by the British.
Independence
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F012976-0007%2C_Bonn%2C_Staatsbesuch_Pr%C3%A4sident_von_Zypern.jpg/200px-Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F012976-0007%2C_Bonn%2C_Staatsbesuch_Pr%C3%A4sident_von_Zypern.jpg)
On 16 August 1960, Cyprus attained independence after the Zürich and London Agreement between the United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey. The UK retained the two Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia while government posts and public offices were allocated by ethnic quotas giving the minority Turks a permanent veto, 30% in parliament and administration, and granting the 3 mother-states guarantor rights.
In 1963 inter-communal violence broke out, partially sponsored by both "motherlands" with Turkish Cypriots being forced into enclaves and Cypriot President Archbishop Makarios III calling for unilateral constitutional changes as a means to ease tensions over the whole island. The United Nations was involved and the United Nations forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) deployed at flash points.[43]
In 1964, Turkey attempted to intervene in Cyprus[44] in response to the ongoing Cypriot intercommunal violence, but was stopped by a strongly worded telegram from the U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson on 5 June 1964; who warned that the United States would not stand beside Turkey in case of a consequential Soviet invasion of Turkish territory.[45]
Contemporary era
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/Greek_Cypriot_prisoners_taken_to_Adana_camps_Turkey_.jpg/220px-Greek_Cypriot_prisoners_taken_to_Adana_camps_Turkey_.jpg)
Following a coup d'état engineered by the Greek Junta, Turkey launched a full-scale military invasion of the island in 1974. The Turkish air force began bombing Greek positions on Cyprus, hundreds of paratroops were dropped in the area between Nicosia and Kyrenia, where well-armed Turkish Cypriot enclaves had been long-established, while off the Kyrenia coast 30 Turkish troop ships protected by destroyers landed 6,000 men as well as tanks, trucks, and armored vehicles.
Three days later, when a ceasefire had been agreed, Turkey had landed 30,000 troops on the island and captured Kyrenia, the corridor linking Kyrenia to Nicosia, and the Turkish-Cypriot quarter of Nicosia. The junta in Athens, and then the Sampson regime in Cyprus fell from power. In Nicosia Glafkos Clerides assumed the presidency and constitutional order was restored; ostensibly removing the pretext the Turks gave for the invasion. The Turks used a period of negotiations to reinforce their Kyrenia bridgehead and prepare for the second phase of the invasion, which began on 14 August and resulted in the seizure of Morphou, Karpasia, Ammochostos and the Mesaoria. The Greek forces were unable to resist the Turkish advance.
International pressure led to a ceasefire at which point 37% of the island had been taken over by the Turks and 180,000 Greek Cypriots were evicted from their homes in the north. At the same time, around 50,000 Turkish Cypriots moved to the areas under the control of the Turkish Forces and settled in the properties of the displaced Greek Cypriots. In mid-1975, the United States Congress amongst a variety of sanctions against Turkey, imposed an arms embargo on Turkey for using American-supplied equipment during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.[46]
In 1983 Turkish Cypriots proclaimed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which is recognised only by Turkey. As of today, there are 1,534 Greek Cypriots[47] and 502 Turkish Cypriots[48] missing as a result of the fighting. The events of the summer of 1974 dominate the politics on the island, as well as Greco-Turkish relations. Around 150,000 settlers from Turkey are believed to be living in the north in violation of the Geneva Convention and various UN resolutions.[49][50] Following the invasion and the capture of its northern territory by Turkish troops, the Republic of Cyprus announced that all of its ports of entry in the north are closed, as they are effectively not under its control.
The last major effort to settle the Cyprus dispute was the Annan Plan. It gained the support of the Turkish Cypriots but was rejected by the Greek Cypriots, who perceived the Annan Plan to be both unbalanced and excessively pro-Turkish.[51]
On May 1, 2004 Cyprus joined the European Union together with nine other countries.[52] It constituted the largest single expansion in the history of the Union.
In July 2006, the island served as a safe haven for people fleeing Lebanon because of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.[53]
In March 2008, a wall that for decades had stood at the boundary between the Greek Cypriot controlled side and the UN buffer zone was demolished.[54] The wall had cut across Ledra Street in the heart of Nicosia and was seen as a strong symbol of the island's 32-year division. On 3 April 2008, Ledra Street was reopened in the presence of Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials.[55]
Geography
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Cyprus_lrg.jpg/220px-Cyprus_lrg.jpg)
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean (after the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia) and the world's 81st largest. It measures 240 kilometers long from end to end and 100 km wide at its widest point, with Turkey 75 km to the north. It lies between latitudes 34° and 36° N, and longitudes 32° and 35° E.
Other neighbouring territories include Syria and Lebanon to the east (105 km and 108 km, respectively), Israel 200 km to the southeast, Egypt 380 km to the south, and Greece to the northwest: 280 km to the small Dodecanesian island of Kastellórizo (Meyísti), 400 km to Rhodes, and 800 km to the Greek mainland.
The physical relief of the island is dominated by two mountain ranges, the Troodos Mountains and the smaller Kyrenia Range, and the central plain they encompass, the Mesaoria. The Troodos Mountains cover most of the southern and western portions of the island and account for roughly half its area. The highest point on Cyprus is Mount Olympus at 1,952 m (6,404 ft), located in the center of the Troodos range. The narrow Kyrenia Range, extending along the northern coastline, occupies substantially less area, and elevations are lower, reaching a maximum of 1,024 m (3,360 ft).
Geopolitically, the island is subdivided into four main segments. The Republic of Cyprus, the internationally recognized government, occupies the southern two-thirds of the island (59.74%). The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus occupies the northern third (34.85%) of the island and is recognized only by Turkey, as it consists of the Turkish-occupied areas. The United Nations-controlled Green Line is a buffer zone that separates the two and covers 2.67% of the island. Lastly, two bases under British sovereignty are located on the island: Akrotiri and Dhekelia, covering the remaining 2.74%.
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Troodos mountains in winter
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Canyon in Cyprus
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Akamas natural park
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Cyprus countryside
Biodiversity
One of the unique features of Cyprus' habitats is the wild and sharp differences in elevations and habitats in different parts of the island as well as different climate conditions, all of which supply a diverse habitat for a unique array of fauna and flora. The number of plant species and sub-species of wild plant in Cyprus is possibly in the thousands, many of them being endemic. Wildlife can be seen in Troodos mountains, Larnaca salt lake, Akrotiri salt lake and undoubtedly Akamas national park. Cyprus is home to Cyprus moufflon which is a national symbol of the country. Moufflon is protected and can be seen in Paphos forests towards branches of Troodos Mountain
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The mouflon is a national symbol
Climate
Cyprus has a Subtropical climate - Mediterranean and Semi-arid type (in the north-eastern part of island) - according to Köppen climate classification signes Csa and Bsh,[56][57] with very mild winters (on the coast) and warm to hot summers. Snow is possible only in the Troodos mountains in the central part of island. Rain occurs mainly in winter, with summer being generally dry. Also, coastal of Cyprus is one of the few places in Europe which are "green" all year round.
Cyprus has the warmest climate (and warmest winters) in the Mediterranean part of the European Union. The average annual temperature on the coast is around 24 °C (75 °F) during the day and 14 °C (57 °F) at night. Generally – summer's/holiday season lasts about 8 months, begins in April with average temperatures of 21–23 °C (70–73 °F) during the day and 11–13 °C (52–55 °F) at night, ends in November with average temperatures of 22–23 °C (72–73 °F) during the day and 12–14 °C (54–57 °F) at night, although also in remaining 4 months temperatures sometimes exceeds 20 °C (68 °F). Among all cities in the Mediterranean part of the European Union, Limassol has the warmest winters, in the period January–February average temperature is 17–18 °C (63–64 °F) during the day and 8–9 °C (46–48 °F) at night, in other coastal locations in Cyprus is generally 16–17 °C (61–63 °F) during the day and 7–9 °C (45–48 °F) at night. In March and December in Limassol average temperatures is 19–20 °C (66–68 °F) during the day and 10–11 °C (50–52 °F) at night, in other coastal locations in Cyprus is generally 17–19 °C (63–66 °F) during the day and 8–11 °C (46–52 °F) at night. Middle of summer is hot - in the July and August on the coast the average temperature is usually around 33 °C (91 °F) during the day and around 23 °C (73 °F) at night (inside the island, in the highlands average temperature exceeds 35 °C (95 °F)) while in the June and September on the coast the average temperature is usually around 30 °C (86 °F) during the day and around 20 °C (68 °F) at night. Large fluctuations in temperature are rare. Temperatures inside the island are more stringent, with colder winters and more hot summers compared with the coast of the island.[58]
Average annual temperature of sea is 21–22 °C (70–72 °F), from 17 °C (63 °F) in February to 27–28 °C (81–82 °F) in August (depending on the location). In total 7 months - from May to November - the average sea temperature exceeds 20 °C (68 °F).[59]
Sunshine hours on the coast is around 3,400 per year, from average 5–6 hours of sunshine / day in December to average 12–13 hours in July.[59] This is about double that of cities in the northern half of Europe, for comparison: London - 1,461,[60] however in winter up to some times more sunshine, for comparison: London has 37 hours[60] while coastal locations in Cyprus has around 180 hours of sunshine in December (that is, as much as in May in London).
Water supply
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Kouris_Dam%2C_Cyprus.jpg/220px-Kouris_Dam%2C_Cyprus.jpg)
Cyprus is suffering from an ongoing shortage of water. The country relies heavily on rain to provide household water and for many years now, the average annual rainfall seemed to be falling. Between 2001 and 2004, exceptionally heavy annual rainfall pushed water reserves up, with supply exceeding demand, allowing total storage in the island's reservoirs to rise to an all time high by the start of 2005. However, since then demand has increased annually - a result of local population growth, foreigners relocating to Cyprus and the number of visiting tourists - while supply has fallen. Cyprus has a total of 108 dams and reservoirs, with a total water storage capacity of about 330,000,000 m3 (1.165384001809×1010 cu ft). Dams remain the principal source of water both for domestic and agricultural use. Water desalination plants are gradually being constructed in order to deal with recent years of prolonged drought. The Government has invested heavily in the creation of water desalination plants which have supplied almost 50 percent of domestic water since 2001. Efforts have also been made to raise public awareness of the situation and to encourage domestic water users to take more responsibility for the conservation of this increasingly scarce commodity.
Politics
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Cyprus is a Presidential republic. The head of state and of the government is elected by a process of Universal suffrage for a five-year term. Executive power is exercised by the government with legislative power vested in the House of Representatives whilst the Judiciary is independent of both the executive and the legislature.
The 1960 Constitution provided for a presidential system of government with independent executive, legislative and judicial branches as well as a complex system of checks and balances including a weighted power-sharing ratio designed to protect the interests of the Turkish Cypriots. The executive was led by a Greek Cypriot president and a Turkish Cypriot vice president elected by their respective communities for five-year terms and each possessing a right of veto over certain types of legislation and executive decisions. Legislative power rested on the House of Representatives who were also elected on the basis of separate voters' rolls.
Following clashes between the two communities the Turkish Cypriot seats in the House remain vacant since 1965. Turkish Cypriots refused to establish the state of affairs before the invasion of Cyprus as is evident in the Secretary-General of the United Nations who said The Turkish Cypriot leaders have adhered to a rigid stand against any measures which might involve having members of the two communities live and work together, or which might place Turkish Cypriots in situations where they would have to acknowledge the authority of Government agents. Indeed, since the Turkish Cypriot leadership is committed to physical and geographical separation of the communities as a political goal, it is not likely to encourage activities by Turkish Cypriots which may be interpreted as demonstrating the merits of an alternative policy. The result has been a seemingly deliberate policy of self-segregation by the Turkish Cypriots[61] By 1974 the two communities had returned to a more tolerant state of living.[61]
In 1974 Cyprus was divided de facto into the Greek Cypriot controlled southern two-thirds of the island and the Turkish controlled northern third. The Turkish Cypriots subsequently declared independence in 1983 as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus but were recognized only by Turkey. In 1985 the TRNC adopted a constitution and held its first elections. The United Nations recognises the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus over the entire island of Cyprus.
The House of Representatives currently has 59 members elected for a five year term, 56 members by proportional representation and 3 observer members representing the Armenian, Latin and Maronite minorities. 24 seats are allocated to the Turkish community but remain vacant since 1964. The political environment is dominated by the communist AKEL, the liberal conservative Democratic Rally, the centrist[62] Democratic Party, the social-democratic EDEK and the centrist EURO.KO. On 17 February 2008 Dimitris Christofias of the AKEL was elected President of Cyprus, on AKEL's first electoral victory without being part of a wider coalition. Cyprus is currently one of only two countries in the world to have a democratically elected communist government (the other being Nepal), and the only European Union member state under communist leadership. Christofias took over government from Tassos Papadopoulos of the Democratic Party who had been in office since February 2003.
Administrative divisions
The Republic of Cyprus is divided into six districts:[63] Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.
Map of Cyprus | Districts | Greek name | Turkish name |
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![]() |
Famagusta | Αμμόχωστος (Ammochostos) | Gazimağusa/Mağusa |
Kyrenia | Κερύvεια (Keryneia) | Girne | |
Larnaca | Λάρνακα (Larnaka) | Larnaka/İskele | |
Limassol | Λεμεσός (Lemesos) | Limasol/Leymosun | |
Nicosia | Λευκωσία (Lefkosia) | Lefkoşa | |
Paphos | Πάφος (Pafos/Bafos) | Baf/Gazibaf |
Exclaves and enclaves
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/20061019_Episkopi_Bay.jpg/220px-20061019_Episkopi_Bay.jpg)
Cyprus has four exclaves, all in territory that belongs to the British Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia. The first two are the villages of Ormidhia and Xylotymvou. The third is the Dhekelia Power Station which is divided by a British road into two parts. The northern part is an exclave, like the two villages, whereas the southern part is located by the sea and therefore not an exclave although it has no territorial waters of its own.[64]
The UN buffer zone runs up against Dhekelia and picks up again from its east side off Ayios Nikolaos and is connected to the rest of Dhekelia by a thin land corridor. In that sense the buffer zone turns the Paralimni area on the southeast corner of the island into a de facto, though not de jure, exclave.
Foreign relations
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Demetris_Christofias_with_Obamas.jpg/220px-Demetris_Christofias_with_Obamas.jpg)
The island nation Cyprus is member of: Australia Group, CN, CE, CFSP, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ITUC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO.[65][66]
Human rights
The constant focus on the division of the island can sometimes mask other human rights issues. Prostitution is rife in both the government-controlled and the Turkish-controlled regions leading to the government being criticised for its lack of controls[67] and for the role of Cyprus in the sex trade as one of the main destinations for human trafficking from Eastern Europe.[68] The Turkish-controlled regime has been the focus of occasional freedom of speech criticisms[69] regarding heavy-handed treatment of newspaper editors. A Class Action has been filed by Tsimpedes Law in Washington DC against Turkey, and the Turkish-occupation regime in the northern part of Cyprus, for "the denial of access to and enjoyment of land and property held in the north". The Class Action lawsuit, initiated by Greek Cypriot refugees from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus [70] in 1974, has been joined by Sandra Kocinski, Pat Clarke and Suz Latchford who paid for but have never been given legal title to the villas that they purchased in the northern part of the island.[71]
Domestic violence legislation remains largely unimplemented[72] and mistreatment of domestic staff, mostly immigrant workers from developing countries, are sometimes reported in the Cypriot press[73] and are the subject of several campaigns by the anti-racist charity KISA.
Military
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Cypriot_Army_color_guard_in_parade.jpg/220px-Cypriot_Army_color_guard_in_parade.jpg)
The Cypriot National Guard is the main military institution of the Republic of Cyprus. It is a combined arms force, with land, air and naval elements. The National Guard is a required 24 month service for all men upon completing their 18th birthday.The land forces of the Cypriot National Guard comprise the following units:
- First Infantry Division (Ιη Μεραρχία ΠΖ)
- Second Infantry Division (ΙΙα Μεραρχία ΠΖ)
- Fourth Infantry Brigade (ΙVη Ταξιαρχία ΠΖ)
- Twentieth Armored Brigade (ΧΧη ΤΘ Ταξιαρχία)
- Third Support Brigade (ΙΙΙη Ταξιαρχία ΥΠ)
- Eighth Support Brigade (VIIIη Ταξιαρχία ΥΠ)
The air force includes the 449th Helicopter Gunship Squadron (449 ΜΑΕ) – operating SA-342L and Bell 206 and the 450th Helicopter Gunship Squadron (450 ME/P) – operating Mi-35P, BN-2B and PC-9. Current Senior officers include Supreme Commander, Cypriot National Guard: Lt. Gen. Konstantinos Bisbikas, Deputy Commander, Cypriot National Guard: Lt. Gen. Savvas Argyrou and Chief of Staff, Cypriot National Guard: Maj. Gen. Gregory Stamoulis.
Economy
The Cypriot economy is prosperous and has diversified in recent years.[74] According to the latest IMF estimates, its per capita GDP (adjusted for purchasing power) at $28,381 is just above the average of the European Union.[75] Cyprus has been sought as a base for several offshore businesses for its highly developed infrastructure. Economic policy of the Cyprus government has focused on meeting the criteria for admission to the European Union. The Cypriot government adopted the euro as the national currency on 1 January 2008.[74] Oil has recently been discovered in the seabed between Cyprus and Egypt and talks are underway between Lebanon and Egypt to reach an agreement regarding the exploration of these resources.[76] The seabed separating Lebanon and Cyprus is believed to hold significant quantities of crude oil and natural gas.[76] However the government of Cyprus states that the Turkish Navy does not allow the exploration of oil in the region.[76][77]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Euro_banknotes.png/220px-Euro_banknotes.png)
The economy of the Turkish-occupied areas operates on a free-market basis although it continues to be handicapped by the lack of private and public investment, high freight costs and shortages of skilled labor. Despite these constraints the economy turned in an impressive performance in 2003 and 2004 with growth rates of 9.6% and 11.4%. The average income in the area was $15,984 (S₣16,289) in 2008.[78] Growth has been buoyed by the relative stability of the Turkish new lira and by a boom in the education and construction sectors. The island has witnessed a massive growth in tourism over the years and as such the property rental market in Cyprus has grown alongside. Added to this is the capital growth in property that has been created from the demand of incoming investors and property buyers to the island.[79]
In Cyprus, the euro was introduced in 2008. Three different designs were selected for the Cypriot coins. The designs were chosen from entrants in a competition in 2005.
The €2 (S₣2.59) coin is a legacy of an old national practice of minting silver and gold commemorative coins.
To commemorate this event, a €5 (S₣6.48) collector coin was also issued. Unlike normal issues these coins are not legal tender in all of the eurozone and so cannot be used in any other country but Cyprus.
Transport
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Cy60_en.jpg/220px-Cy60_en.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Coral_at_Port_Vell.jpg/220px-Coral_at_Port_Vell.jpg)
Available modes of transport are by road, sea, and air. Of the 10,663 km (6,626 mi) of roads in the government controlled area as of 1998, 6,249 km (3,883 mi) were paved, and 4,414 km (2,743 mi) were unpaved. As of 1996 the Turkish occupied area had a similar ratio of paved to unpaved, with approximately 1,370 km (850 mi) of paved road and 980 km (610 mi) unpaved. Cyprus is one of only four EU nations in which vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road, a remnant of British colonisation, the others being Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom.
- A1 Nicosia to Limassol
- A2 connects A1 near Pera Chorio with A3 by Larnaca
- A3 Larnaca to Agia Napa
- A5 connects A1 near Kofinou with A3 by Larnaca
- A6 Pafos to Limassol
- A9 Nicosia to Astromeritis
Vehicle Category | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Private vehicles | 270,348 | 277,554 | 291,645 | 324,212 | 344,953 |
Taxis | 1,641 | 1,559 | 1,696 | 1,770 | 1,845 |
Rental cars | 8,080 | 8,509 | 9,160 | 9,652 | 8,336 |
Buses | 3,003 | 2,997 | 3,275 | 3,199 | 3,217 |
Light trucks (lighter than 40 tonnes) | 107,060 | 106,610 | 107,527 | 105,017 | 105,327 |
Heavy trucks (over 40 tonnes) | 10,882 | 11,182 | 12,119 | 12,808 | 13,028 |
Motorcycles (2 wheels) | 12,956 | 14,983 | 16,009 | 16,802 | 16,836 |
Motorcycles (3 wheels) | 42 | 41 | 43 | 55 | 558 |
Scooters | 28,987 | 25,252 | 25,464 | 24,539 | 22,987 |
TOTAL | 442,999 | 448,687 | 466,938 | 498,054 | 517,087 |
In 1999, Cyprus had six heliports and two international airports: Larnaca International Airport and Paphos International Airport. Nicosia International Airport has been closed since 1974 and although Ercan airport was still in use it was only for flights from Turkey.
Public transport in Cyprus is limited to privately run bus services (except in Nicosia), taxis, and interurban 'shared' taxi services (referred to locally as service taxis). Per capita private car ownership is the 5th highest in the world. In 2006 extensive plans were announced to improve and expand bus services and restructure public transport throughout Cyprus, with the financial backing of the European Union Development Bank. The main harbours of the island are Limassol harbour and Larnaca harbour, which service cargo, passenger, and cruise ships.
Communications
Cyta, the state-owned telecommunications company, manages most Telecommunications and Internet connections on the island. However, following the recent liberalisation of the sector, a few private telecommunications companies have emerged including MTN, Cablenet, TelePassport, OTEnet Telecom, Omega Telecom and PrimeTel. In the Turkish-controlled area of Cyprus, three companies are also present. These are Turkcell, Vodafone and Turk Telekom.
Demographics
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Ethnographic_distribution_in_Cyprus_1960.jpg/200px-Ethnographic_distribution_in_Cyprus_1960.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Cyprus-demography.png/200px-Cyprus-demography.png)
It is traditionally accepted that Greek Cypriots form up to 80%, Turkish Cypriots 18% (not including Turkish settlers), and Christian minorities (including Maronites, Latin Catholic and Armenians) 2% of the Cypriot population.[81][82][83][84]
According to the first population census after the declaration of independence, carried out in December 1960 and covering the entire island, Cyprus had a total population of 573,566; of whom 442,138 (77.1%) were Greek Cypriots, 104,320 (18.2%) Turkish Cypriots, and 27,108 (4.7%) others.[85][86]
Due to the inter-communal ethnic tensions between 1963 and 1974, an island-wide census was regarded as impossible. Nevertheless, the Greek Cypriot's conducted one in 1973, without the Turkish Cypriot populace.[87] According to this census, the Greek Cypriot population was 482,000. One year later, in 1974, the Cypriot government's Department of Statistics and Research estimated the total population of Cyprus at 641,000; of whom 506,000 (78.9%) were Greek Cypriots, and 118,000 (18.4%) Turkish Cypriots.[88] After the partition of the island in 1974, Greek Cypriots conducted four more censuses: in 1976, 1982, 1992 and 2001; these excluded the Turkish Cypriot population which was resident in the northern part of the island.[89]
According to the Republic of Cyprus's latest estimate, in 2005, the number of Cypriot citizens currently living in the government-controlled area of the island is around 656,200. In addition this, the Cypriot government-controlled region is home to 110,200 foreign permanent residents.[90] Furthermore, there is an estimated 10,000-30,000 undocumented illegal immigrants currently living in the south of the island.[91]
The latest available estimates by the Republic of Cyprus Statistical Service put the island’s population at the end of 2006 at 867,600 in the government controlled area and 88,900 Turkish Cypriots in Northern Cyprus. However, the Republic of Cyprus estimate of Turkish Cypriots does not represent the total population of Northern Cyprus. In addition, the Republic of Cyprus Statistical Service also estimated that 150,000–160,000 Turkish immigrants were living in Northern Cyprus, bringing the de facto population of Northern Cyprus to about 250,000.[citation needed]
According to the 2006 census carried out by Northern Cyprus, there were 256,644 (de jure) people living in the North. 178,031 were TRNC citizens, of which 147,405 were Cyprus-born (112,534 from the North; 32,538 from the South; 371 did not indicated what part of Cyprus they were from); 27,333 Turkey-born; 2,482 UK-born and 913 Bulgaria-born. Of the 147,405 Cyprus-born TRNC citizens, 120,031 have both parents born in Cyprus; 16,824 have both parents born in Turkey; 10,361 have one parent born in Turkey and the other parent born in Cyprus.[92]
According to the International Crisis Group, as of 2010, the total population of Cyprus is 1.1 million,[93] of which there is an estimated 300,000 residents in the north, perhaps half of which were either born in Turkey or are children of such settlers.[94]
The village of Pyla in the Larnaca District is the only settlement in Cypriot government-controlled territory with a mixed Greek and Turkish Cypriot population.
Y-Dna haplogroups are found at the following frequencies in Cyprus : J (43.07% including 6.20% J1), E1b1b (20.00%), R1 (12.30% including 9.2% R1b), F (9.20%), I (7.70%), K (4.60%), A (3.10%).[95] J, K, F and E1b1b haplogroups consist of lineages with differential distribution within Middle East, North Africa and Europe while R1 and I are typical in West European populations.
Outside Cyprus there is a significant and thriving Greek Cypriot diaspora and Turkish Cypriot diaspora in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the United States, Greece and Turkey.
Religion
Almost all Greek Cypriots are members of the autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus,[3][96][97] whereas most Turkish Cypriots are adherents of Sunni Islam. According to Eurobarometer 2005,[98] Cyprus is one of the most religious countries in the European Union, alongside Malta, Romania, Greece, and Poland. The first President of Cyprus, Makarios III, was an archbishop.
Given the special legal status of the Church of Cyprus, the country is also one of only six EU states to have an established state church, alongside Finland (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church and Finnish Orthodox Church), Denmark (Danish National Church), Greece (Church of Greece), Malta (Roman Catholic Church) and the United Kingdom (Church of England (only in England)). In addition to the Greek Orthodox and Muslim communities, there are also small Hindu, Sikh, Bahá'í, Jewish, Protestant (including Pentecostal), Catholic (including Latin Rite and Maronite) and Armenian Apostolic communities in Cyprus.
Hala Sultan Tekke, situated near the Larnaca Salt Lake, is considered by some secular orientalists as the third holiest site in Sunni Islam[99][100][101][102][103][104][105] and an object of pilgrimage for both Muslims and Christians.[106][107]
The current leader of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus is Archbishop Chrysostomos II. He is known for his right-wing nationalist views, branding e.g. illegal immigrants as "‘interlopers’ who do not belong on the island" and admits espousing several other political ideas of Cyprus' National People’s Front (ELAM).[108][109]
Languages
The country has two official languages: Greek and Turkish.[2] Armenian, Cypriot Maronite Arabic and Romani are also recognized as minority languages.[110] In addition to these languages - according the Eurobarometer by European Commission - 76% of the population of Cyprus speak English, 12% speak French, and 5% speak German.[111]
Education
Cyprus has a highly developed system of primary and secondary education offering both public and private education. The high quality of instruction can be attributed to a large extent to the above-average competence of the teachers but also to the fact that nearly 7% of the GDP is spent on education which makes Cyprus one of the top three spenders of education in the EU along with Denmark and Sweden.
State schools are generally seen as equivalent in quality of education to private-sector institutions. However, the value of a state high-school diploma is limited by the fact that the grades obtained account for only around 25% of the final grade for each topic, with the remaining 75% assigned by the teacher during the semester, in a minimally transparent way. Cypriot universities (like universities in Greece) ignore high school grades almost entirely for admissions purposes. While a high-school diploma is mandatory for university attendance, admissions are decided almost exclusively on the basis of scores at centrally administered university entrance examinations that all university candidates are required to take.
The majority of Cypriots receive their higher education at Greek, British,Turkish, other European and North American universities. It is noteworthy that Cyprus currently has the highest percentage of citizens of working age who have higher-level education in the EU at 30% which is ahead of Finland's 29.5%. In addition 47% of its population aged 25–34 have tertiary education, which is the highest in the EU. The body of Cypriot students is highly mobile, with 78.7% studying in a university outside Cyprus.
Culture
![]() |
Art
The art history of Cyprus can be said to stretch back up to 10,000 years, following the discovery of a series of Chalcolithic period carved figures in the villages of Khoirokoitia and Lempa[112] and the island is also the home to numerous examples of high quality religious icon painting from the Middle Ages. Cypriot architecture was heavily influenced by French Gothic and Italian renaissance introduced in the island during the era of Latin domination (1191-1571).
In modern times Cypriot art history begins with the painter Vassilis Vryonides (1883–1958) who studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice.[113] Arguably the two founding fathers of modern Cypriot art were Adamantios Diamantis (1900–1994) who studied at London's Royal College of Art and Christopheros Savva (1924–1968) who also studied in London, at St Martins School of Art.[114] In many ways these two artists set the template for subsequent Cypriot art and both their artistic styles and the patterns of their education remain influential to this day. In particular the majority of Cypriot artists still train in England[115] although art schools in Greece are also popular and local art institutions such as the Cyprus College of Art, University of Nicosia and the Frederick Institute of Technology are becoming more popular.
One of the features of Cypriot art is a tendency towards figurative painting although conceptual art is being rigorously promoted by a number of art “institutions” and most notably the Nicosia Municipal Art Centre [12]. Municipal art galleries exist in all the main towns and there is a large and lively commercial art scene. Cyprus was due to host the international art festival Manifesta in 2006 but this was cancelled at the last minute following a dispute between the Dutch organizers of Manifesta and the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture over the location of some of the Manifesta events in the Turkish sector of the capital Nicosia.[116][117]
Other notable Cypriot artists include Rhea Bailey, Mihail Kkasialos, Ioannis Kissonergis, Theodoulos Gregoriou, Helene Black, George Skoteinos, Kalopedis family, Nicos Nicolaides, Stass Paraskos, Arestís Stasí, Telemachos Kanthos, Konstantia Sofokleous and Chris Achilleos.
Music
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Trichordobouzouki-upright.jpg/90px-Trichordobouzouki-upright.jpg)
The traditional folk music of Cyprus has several common elements with Greek, Turkish, and Arabic music including Greco-Turkish dances such as the sousta, syrtos, zeibekikos, tatsia, and kartsilamas as well as the Middle Eastern-inspired tsifteteli and arapie. There is also a form of musical poetry known as chattista which is often performed at traditional feasts and celebrations. The instruments commonly associated with Cyprus folk music are the bouzouki (pictured), oud ("outi"), violin ("fkiolin"), lute ("laouto"), accordion, Cyprus flute ("pithkiavlin") and percussion (including the "toumperleki"). Composers associated with traditional Cypriot music include Evagoras Karageorgis, Marios Tokas, Solon Michaelides and Savvas Salides.
Popular music in Cyprus is generally influenced by the Greek Laïka scene with several artists including Anna Vissi, Evridiki, and Sarbel earning widespread popularity in Cyprus, Greece and parts of the Middle East. Hip Hop, R&B and reggae are also very popular genres on the island and have been supported by the emergence of Cypriot rap and the urban music scene at Ayia Napa. Cypriot rock music and Éntekhno rock is often associated with artists such as Michalis Hatzigiannis and Alkinoos Ioannidis. Metal also has a small following in Cyprus represented by bands such as Winter's Verge and Quadraphonic.
Literature
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Zeno_of_Citium_pushkin.jpg/140px-Zeno_of_Citium_pushkin.jpg)
Literary production of the antiquity includes the Cypria, an epic poem, probably composed in the late seventh century BC and attributed to Stasinus. The Cypria is one of the very first specimens of Greek and European poetry.[118] The Cypriot Zeno of Citium was the founder of the Stoic School of Philosophy.
Epic poetry, notably the "acritic songs", flourished during Middle Ages. Two chronicles, one written by Leontios Machairas and the other by Voustronios, refer to the period under French domination (15th century). Poèmes d'amour written in medieval Greek Cypriot date back from 16th century. Some of them are actual translations of poems written by Petrarch, Bembo, Ariosto and G. Sannazzaro.[119]
Hasan Hilmi Efendi, a Turkish Cypriot poet, was rewarded by the Ottoman sultan Mahmud II and said to be the "sultan of the poems".[120]
Modern literary figures from Cyprus include the poet and writer Kostas Montis, poet Kyriakos Charalambides, poet Michalis Pasiardis, writer Nicos Nicolaides, Stylianos Atteshlis, Altheides, Loukis Akritas[121] and Demetris Th. Gotsis. Dimitris Lipertis, Vasilis Michaelides and Pavlos Liasides are folk poets who wrote poems mainly in the Cypriot-Greek dialect.[122][123] Lawrence Durrell lived in Northern Cyprus from 1952 until 26 August 1956 and wrote the book Bitter Lemons concerning his time there which won the second Duff Cooper Prize in 1957. The majority of the play Othello by William Shakespeare is set on the island of Cyprus. Cyprus also figures in religious literature such as the Acts of the Apostles according to which the Apostles Barnabas and Paul preached on the island.
Cuisine
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Halloumislice_zoom.jpg/160px-Halloumislice_zoom.jpg)
Halloumi cheese originated in Cyprus[124][125] and was initially made during the Medieval Byzantine period,[126] subsequently gaining popularity throughout the Middle-East. Halloumi (Hellim) is commonly served sliced, either fresh or grilled, as an appetiser.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Luntza_und_Hieromeri.jpg/180px-Luntza_und_Hieromeri.jpg)
Seafood and fish dishes of Cyprus include squid, octopus, red mullet, and sea bass. Cucumber and tomato are used widely in salads. Common vegetable preparations include potatoes in olive oil and parsley, pickled cauliflower and beets, asparagus and Taro. Other traditional delicacies of the island are meat marinated in dried coriander, seeds and wine, and eventually dried and smoked, such as lountza (smoked pork loin), charcoal-grilled lamb, souvlaki (pork and chicken cooked over charcoal), and sheftalia (minced meat wrapped in mesentery). Pourgouri (bulgur, cracked wheat) is the traditional carbohydrate other than bread, and is used to make the Cypriot delicacy koubes.
Fresh vegetables and fruits are common ingredients in Cypriot cuisine. Frequently used vegetables include courgettes, green peppers, okra, green beans, artichokes, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and grape leaves, and pulses such as beans, broad beans, peas, black-eyed beans, chick-peas and lentils. The commonest among fruits and nuts are pears, apples, grapes, oranges, mandarines, nectarines, mespila, blackberries, cherry, strawberries, figs, watermelon, melon, avocado, lemon, pistachio, almond, chestnut, walnut, hazelnut.
Cyprus is also well-known for its desserts, including lokum, also known as Turkish Delight.[127] This island has protected geographical indication (PGI) for its lokum produced in the village of Geroskipou.[128]
Sports
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Petter_Solberg_-_2009_Cyprus_Rally_4.jpg/220px-Petter_Solberg_-_2009_Cyprus_Rally_4.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Marcos_Baghdatis_2006.jpg/200px-Marcos_Baghdatis_2006.jpg)
Governing bodies of sports in Cyprus include the Cyprus Football Association, Cyprus Basketball Federation, Cyprus Volleyball Federation, Cyprus Automobile Association, Cyprus Badminton Federation,[129] Cyprus Cricket Association and the Cyprus Rugby Federation.
Football is by far the most popular spectator sport. The Cyprus League is nowadays considered as quite competitive and includes notable teams such as AC Omonia, APOEL FC, AEL Lemesos, Apollon FC, Anorthosis Famagusta FC, Nea Salamis Famagusta FC and AEK Larnaca FC. Stadiums or sports venues in Cyprus include the GSP Stadium (the largest in Cyprus), Tsirion Stadium (second largest), Neo GSZ Stadium, Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Ammochostos Stadium and Makario Stadium. Cyprus, also has a football national team which in the last decade has evolved to a promising squad within the European rankings.
Apart from the main interest in football, Cyprus has exhibited certain accomplishments in other sports. Marcos Baghdatis is one of the most successful tennis players in international stage.[citation needed] He was a finalist at the Australian Open in 2006, and reached the Wimbledon semi-final in the same year. Also Kyriakos Ioannou a Cypriot high jumper achieved a jump of 2.35 m at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics held in Osaka, Japan, in 2007 winning the bronze medal.
Media
Newspapers include Phileleftheros, Politis (Cyprus), Simerini, Kıbrıs, Cyprus Mail, the Cyprus Observer, Cyprus Today, Cyprus Weekly, Halkın Sesi, Havadis, Haravgi and Kathimerini (in a special Cypriot edition). TV channels include ANT1 Cyprus, Alfa TV, CNC Plus TV, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, Mega Channel Cyprus, Bayrak and Sigma TV.
Architecture
There are nine churches and one monastery in Troodos that are counted among UNESCO's World Heritage Sites and several other monasteries, of which the Kykkos monastery is the richest and most famous. The churches are:
- Stavros tou Ayiasmati
- Panayia tou Araka
- Timiou Stavrou at Pelendri
- Ayios Nikolaos tis Stegis
- Panayia Podithou
- Assinou
- Ayios loannis Lampadistis
- Archangel Michael at Pedhoulas
The area has been known since ancient times for its copper mines, and in the Byzantine period it became a great centre of Byzantine art, as churches and monasteries were built in the mountains, away from the threatened coastline.
-
Exterior view of Kykkos Monastery
-
The entrance of Monastery of Stavros
-
Sts Peter and Paul Church (c.1360)
-
The Pantocrator fresco in Asinou Church (Troodos mountain range)
Three prominent ancient mosques in Cyprus:
- Hala Sultan Tekke
- Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque
- Arabahmet Mosque
- Ancient mosque in Limassol
-
The Grand Mosque in Limassol
-
Hala Sultan Tekke is a very prominent Muslim shrine near Larnaca which attracts Muslims of countries abroad
See also
References
- Notes
- ^ "Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus - The National Anthem". Retrieved 15 February 2011.
- ^ a b Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus: "The official languages of the Republic are Greek and Turkish" (Appendix D, Part 01, Article 3)
- ^ a b c "Cyprus". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ^ "Total population as of 1 January". Eurostat. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Cyprus". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
- ^ Human Development Report 2009. The United Nations. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
- ^ Fouskas, V. 2002. Eurasian gambles over Cyprus' European prospects. Turkish Yearbook of International Relations (ISSN: 0544-1943): Vol. 33, pp. 183–207; on p. 186: "[In analysing Cyprus within a wider geopolitical context, t]he requirement is to decipher the parameters and the linkages of the balance of power in the Eurasian region, and in its Near Eastern subregion, to which Cyprus belongs."
- ^ Cyprus is approximate to Anatolia (Asia Minor) (which comprises the bulk of Turkey) but it may be considered to be in Asia and/or Europe, which together constitute Eurasia.[1] The UN classification of world regions places Cyprus in Western Asia; [2]National Geographic also places Cyprus in Asia. Conversely, numerous sources place Cyprus in Europe such as the BBC [3] and www.worldatlas.com; it is also a member of the European Union. Additionally, sources may place Cyprus in the Middle East, e.g., the CIA World Factbook.[4]
- ^ Invest in Cyprus website – figures do not include tourism to the occupied North [5]
- ^ "The World Economic Outlook (WEO) Database May 2001". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
- ^ "Country and Lending Groups". World Bank. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
- ^ "Human Development Report 2009 – HDI rankings". United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
- ^ "The Non-Aligned Movement: Background Information". Non-Aligned Movement. 21 September 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
- ^ "2000 – today: A decade of further expansion". Europa. European Union. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
- ^ a b "Stone Age wells found in Cyprus". BBC News. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 31 July 2009.
- ^ a b Wade, Nicholas, "Study Traces Cat's Ancestry to Middle East", The New York Times, 29 June 2007
- ^ a b Walton, Marsha (9 April 2004). "Ancient burial looks like human and pet cat". CNN. Retrieved 23 November 2007.
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(help) - ^ Cyprus, CIA World Factbook ; CIA Atlas of the Middle East (1993) (online edition)
- ^ Middle East Region, Xpeditions Altas, National Geographic
- ^ Middle East (region, Asia), Britannica Online Encyclopedia
- ^ Middle East Map, MSN Encarta
- ^ Cyprus date of independence (click on Historical review)
- ^ "U.S. Library of Congress – Country Studies – Cyprus – Intercommunal Violence". Countrystudies.us. 21 December 1963. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ a b Mallinson, William (30 June 2005). Cyprus: A Modern History. I. B. Tauris. p. 81. ISBN 978-1850435808.
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(help) Cite error: The named reference "Mallinson" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ "website". BBC News. 4 October 2002. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ "According to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 550 and 541". Un.org. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- ^ Palaeolexicon, Word study tool of ancient languages
- ^ Fisher, Fred H. Cyprus: Our New Colony And What We Know About It. London: George Routledge and Sons 1878, pp. 13–14.
- ^ Mithen, S. After the Ice: A Global Human History, 20000 BC – 5000 BC. Boston: Harvard University Press 2005, p.97. [6]
- ^ The earliest prehistory of Cyprus from colonization to exploitation, ed. Swiny, Stuart, American Schools of Oriental Research, 2001, In PDF
- ^ Simmons, A.H. Faunal extinction in an island society: pygmy hippopotamus hunters of Cyprus. New York: Springer 1999, p.15. [7]
- ^ Thomas, Carol G. & Conant, C.: The Trojan War, pages 121–122. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005. ISBN 0-313-32526-X, 9780313325267.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Library of Congress Country Studies. ''Cyprus''". Lcweb2.loc.gov. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
- ^ Thomas, C.G., Conant, D. The Trojan War. Santa Barbara, CA, USA: Greenwood Publishing Group 2005. p.64. [8]
- ^ Encyclopedia of Freemasonry Part 1 and Its Kindred Sciences Comprising the Whole Range of Arts … – Page 25
- ^ Riddle, J.M. A History of the Middle Ages. Lanham, MD, USA: Rowman & Littlefield 2008. p. 326. [9]
- ^ a b c d Cyprus – OTTOMAN RULE, U.S. Library of Congress
- ^ Osmanli Nufusu 1830–1914 by Kemal Karpat, ISBN 975-333-169-X and Die Völker des Osmanischen by Ritter zur Helle von Samo.
- ^ Ertl, Alan W. (2008). Toward an Understanding of Europe: A Political Economic Précis of Continental Integration. Universal-Publishers. p. 418. ISBN 9781599429830.
- ^ Kourvetaris, George A. (1999). Studies on modern Greek society and politics. East European Monographs. p. 347. ISBN 9780880334327.
- ^ Hoffmeister, Frank (2006). Legal aspects of the Cyprus problem: Annan Plan and EU accession. EMartinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 9. ISBN 9789004152236.
- ^ Caesar V. Mavratsas. "Politics, Social Memory, and Identity in Greek Cyprus since 1974". cyprus-conflict.net. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
- ^ Hoffmeister, Frank (2006). Legal aspects of the Cyprus problem: Annan Plan and EU accession. EMartinus Nijhoff Publishers. pp. 17–20. ISBN 9789004152236.
- ^ "1964: Guns fall silent in Cyprus". BBC News. 24 April 2004. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ Jacob M. Landau (1979). Johnson's 1964 letter to Inonu and Greek lobbying of the White House. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Leonard Davis Institute for International Relations.
- ^ "Turkey and the United States: The Arms Embargo Period" (Document). Praeger Publishers (5 August 1986).
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ignored (help) - ^ "Over 100 missing identified so far" (Document). Cyprus Mail.
{{cite document}}
: Unknown parameter|accessdate=
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ignored (help); Unknown parameter|url=
ignored (help) - ^ "Missing cause to get cash injection" (Document). Cyprus Mail.
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: Unknown parameter|accessdate=
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ignored (help); Unknown parameter|archiveurl=
ignored (help); Unknown parameter|url=
ignored (help) - ^ Council of Europe (1993). Documents (working papers) 1993. Council of Europe. p. 1997. ISBN 9789287122629.
- ^ Chrysafi, A. C. (2003). Who shall govern Cyprus – Brussels or Nicosia?. Evandia Publishing UK Limited. p. 112. ISBN 9781904578000.
- ^ Palley, Claire (18 May 2005). An International Relations Debacle: The UN Secretary-general's Mission of Good Offices in Cyprus 1999-2004. Hart Publishing. p. 224. ISBN 184113578X.
- ^ Stephanos Constantinides & Joseph Joseph, 'Cyprus and the European Union: Beyond Accession', Études helléniques/Hellenic Studies 11 (2), Autumn 2003
- ^ Xinhua (21 July 2006). "About 11,500 people flee Lebanon to Cyprus". People's Daily Online.
- ^ "Greek Cypriots dismantle barrier" (Document). BBC News. 9 March 2007.
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: Unknown parameter|accessdate=
ignored (help); Unknown parameter|url=
ignored (help) - ^ Ledra Street crossing opens in Cyprus. Associated Press article published on International Herald Tribune Website, 3 April 2008
- ^ Peel, M. C. and Finlayson, B. L. and McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. ISSN 1027-5606.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) (direct: Final Revised Paper) - ^ CIA Factbook - Geographic location
- ^ "Meteorological Service - Climatological and Meteorological Reports".
- ^ a b "Cyprus Climate Guide". Retrieved 5 June 2009.
- ^ a b "Met Office: Climate averages 1971-2000". Met Office.
- ^ a b Quotation from 1965 in a report submitted by Cyprus in the framework of the Convention for the Protectino of Mational Minorities citing United Nations Secretary General Report S/6426, 10 June 1965
- ^ DotNetNuke. "Democratic Party (DH.KO) > Το Κόμμα > Διακήρυξη". Diko.org.cy. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
- ^ "EUROPA – The EU at a glance – Maps – Cyprus". Europa.eu. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- ^ "Cyprus". Geosite.jankrogh.com. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
- ^ "CIA – The World Factbook – Cyprus". Cia.gov. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
- ^ "European Commission – Enlargement: Archives Country Profiles". Ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
- ^ Jean Christou. "US report raps Cyprus over battle on flesh trade". cyprus-mail.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
- ^ Jacqueline Theodoulou. "A shame on our society". cyprus-mail.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
- ^ "IPI deeply concerned over criminal defamation charges brought against daily newspaper in Northern Cyprus" (Document). international Press Institute. 9 January 2007.
{{cite document}}
: Unknown parameter|accessdate=
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ignored (help) - ^ Stephanos Constantinides, «International Law, Human Rights and Realpolitik, the Case of Cyprus», (in cooperation with Thalia Tassou), in Etudes helléniques/Hellenic Studies, vol. 10, No. 1, Spring 2002
- ^ Buyers of property in the north join US lawsuit, 17 January 2010, NorthCyprusDaily.com
- ^ U.S. Department of State (March 1996). "Cyprus Human Rights Practices, 1995: Discrimination Based on Race, Sex, Religion, Disability, Language, or Social Status" (Document). Hellenic Resources network.
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ignored (help) - ^ "US Report on Human Rights in Cyprus (sectiond 6c & 6e)". Asylumlaw.org. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- ^ a b "Cyprus Economy". Republic of Cyprus. www.cyprus.gov.cy. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
- ^ List of countries by future GDP (PPP) per capita estimates
- ^ a b c "Turkey warns Lebanon, Egypt against oil exploration deal with Cyprus". AP/International Herald Tribune. www.iht.com. 30 January 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
- ^ "Cyprus accuses Turkish Navy of blocking oil exploration". The Daily Star. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ Economic and Social Indicators 1977 (S₣43)–2008, TRNC State Planning Organization.
- ^ "Growth in tourism has stimulated the property market in Cyprus". Property Abroad. www.apropertyincyprus.com. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ "''Public Works Department official statistics''". Mcw.gov.cy. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ Boyle, Kevin; Sheen, Juliet (1997). Freedom of Religion and Belief: A World Report. Routledge. p. 288. ISBN 0415159784.
- ^ Salih, Halil Ibrahim (2004). Cyprus: Ethnic Political Counterpoints. University Press of America. p. 121. ISBN 0415159784.
- ^ Karoulla-Vrikki, Dimitra (2009). "Greek in Cyprus: Identity Oscillations and Language Planning". In Georgakopoulou, Alexandra; Silk, M.S. (eds) (eds.). Standard languages and language standards: Greek, past and present. Ashgate Publishing. p. 188. ISBN 0754664376.
{{cite book}}
:|editor2-first=
has generic name (help) - ^ Hadjipavlou, Maria (2002). "Cyprus: A Partnership Between Conflict Resolution and Peace Education". In Salomon, Gavriel; Nevo, Baruch (eds) (eds.). Peace Education: The Concept, Principles, and Practices Around the World. Routledge. p. 195. ISBN 0805841938.
{{cite book}}
:|editor2-first=
has generic name (help) - ^ Hatay, Mete (2007). "Is the Turkish Cypriot Population Shrinking?" (PDF). International Peace Research Institute. p. 22.
- ^ Eric Solsten, ed. Cyprus: A Country Study, Library of Congress, Washington, DC, 1991.
- ^ St John-Jones, L.W. (1983). The Population of Cyprus: Demographic Trends and Socio-Economic Influences. London: Maurice Temple Smith Ltd. p. 17. ISBN 0851172326.
- ^ Cyprus Ministry of Interior (1992). "The Demographic Structure of Cyprus" (PDF). Parliamentary Assembly. p. 6.
- ^ Hatay, Mete (2007). "Is the Turkish Cypriot Population Shrinking?" (PDF). International Peace Research Institute. p. 23.
- ^ Republic of Cyprus Statistical Service (2006). "Demographic Report 2005". Nicosia: Republic of Cyprus Statistical Service. p. 12.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|url=
(help) - ^ Nicos, Trimikliniotis; Demetriou, Corina (2007). "Active Civic Participation of Immigrants in Cyprus" (PDF). POLITIS. p. 8.
- ^ "Census.XLS" (PDF). Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ International Crisis Group (2010). "CYPRUS: BRIDGING THE PROPERTY DIVIDE". International Crisis Group. p. 1.
- ^ International Crisis Group (2010). "CYPRUS: BRIDGING THE PROPERTY DIVIDE". International Crisis Group. p. 2.
- ^ (n=65), Population structure in the Mediterranean basin: a Y chromosome perspective, Capelli et al. 2005
- ^ "About Cyprus – Towns and Population". Government Web Portal – Areas of Interest. Government of Cyprus. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ^ Solsten, Eric (January 1991). "A Country Study: Cyprus". Federal Research Division. Library of Congress. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ^ "ReportDGResearchSocialValuesEN2.PDF" (PDF). Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ Bowen, George E. (3 April 2001). "Assessing the Isle of Cyprus". Patrick S. O'Brien on the University of Tennessee server. Retrieved 12 November 2006.
Three historic churches and monasteries are within the city. Just outside the city is the location of the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque, the third holiest place for Muslims in the world.
- ^ Drayton, Penny (1993). "Aphrodite's island". Wood & water. 2 (41).
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ignored (help) Cited by: Trubshaw, Bob (1993). "The Black Stone – the Omphalos of the Goddess". Mercian Mysteries (14). Retrieved 12 November 2006.In Cyprus is another highly venerated Islamic site – the third most important after Mecca and Medina – the Hala Sultan Tekke. This, too, has a black rock, said to have fallen as a meteorite as part of the tritholon over the shrine. The shrine is to a woman – the aunt and foster mother of Prophet Mohammed
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ignored (help) - ^ Daniel, Geoff (2004). Landscapes of Cyprus. Sunflower. p. 36. ISBN 1856912299.
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ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ The Story of Hala Sultan Tekke, University of Arizona: Center for Middle Eastern Studies, "The Mosque of Umm Haram is the chief Muslim shrine on the island of Cyprus and an important holy site for the entire Muslim world... The Hala Sultan Tekke is the third most revered site of pilgrimage in the Muslim world." Retrieved: 23-02-2009
- ^ Papalexandrou, Nassos. Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus: An Elusive Landscape of Sacredness in a Liminal Context, Journal of Modern Greek Studies, Volume 26, Number 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, (October 2008) pp. 251–281. "Der Parthog calls it the "third most holy space in Islam" (1995:222–223)"
- ^ "Hala Sultan Tekke: Where East Meets West". Issue 1. United Nations Development Programme. 2006. Retrieved 12 November 2006.
Islam's third sacred holy site after the Ka'ba and the Prophet Mohammad's grave in Mecca, and among the greatest cultural heritage monuments of the world, Hala Sultan Tekke, or Umm Haram, has long been the destination of Muslim pilgrims from Cyprus and the Middle East.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "Monuments: Hala Sultan Tekke". Republic of Cyprus, Ministry of Communications and Works; Department of Antiquities. 2005. Retrieved 6 March 2006.
The Muslim mosque of Hala Sultan is located in the center of a spectacular garden at the west bank of the Salt Lake, about 6 km (3.73 mi) southwest of Larnaca. It is the main Muslim pilgrimage site of Cyprus and the third most important holy place of Islam.
- ^ "The Tekke of Hala Sultan", A Virtual Reconstruction of the Hala Sultan Tekke
- ^ Papalexandrou, Nassos, "Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus: An Elusive Landscape of Sacredness in a Liminal Context", Journal of Modern Greek Studies, Volume 26, Number 2, October 2008, pp. 251–281
- ^ http://www.cyprus-mail.com/religion/our-view-archbishop-purposely-stoking-culture-racism/20101229
- ^ http://www.trncpio.org/trncpio/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=899
- ^ http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/archive/languages/langmin/euromosaic/cy1_en.html
- ^ Europeans and their Languages, 2006
- ^ "Lemba Archaeological Research Centre". Arcl.ed.ac.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ Chrysanthos Christou, A short History of Modern and Contemporary Cypriot Art, Nicosia 1983.
- ^ Ministry of Education and Culture, State Gallery of Contemporary Cypriot Art (Nicosia: MOEC,1998)
- ^ Michael Paraskos, 'The Art of Modern Cyprus', in Sunjet, Spring 2002, 62f
- ^ "Schools Out". [10]. 2006-09.
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- ^ "Manifesta no more". [11].
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: External link in
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- ^ "An indication that at least the main contents of the Cypria were known around 650 BCE is provided by the representation of the Judgment of Paris on the Chigi vase" (Burkert 1992:103). On the proto-Corinthian ewer of ca. 640 BCE known as the Chigi "vase", Paris is identified as Alexandros, as he was apparently called in Cypria.
- ^ Th. Siapkaras- Pitsillidés, Le Pétrarchisme en Cypre. Poèmes d' amour en dialecte Chypriote d' après un manuscript du XVIe siècle, Athènes 1975 (2ème édition)
- ^ Gazioğlu, Ahmet C. (1990). The Turks in Cyprus: a province of the Ottoman Empire (1571-1878), 293-295, K. Rüstem.
- ^ "Cyprus Stamp Issue: Loukis Akritas".
- ^ "Cyprus Stamp Issue: Cyprus Poets".
- ^ "Cyprus Stamp Issue: Centenary Birthday Anniversary of Poet Pavlos Liasides".
- ^ Robinson, R. K. – Tamime, A. Y. (1991). Feta and Related Cheeses. Woodhead Publishing. p. 144. ISBN 1855732785.
Halloumi is a semi-hard to hard, unripened cheese that, traditionally, is made from either sheep's milk or goat's milk or a mixture of the two. Although the cheese has its origins in Cyprus, it is widely popular throughout the Middle East, and hence many countries have now become involved with its manufacture.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Murdoch Books Pty Limited (2005). Essential Mediterranean. Murdoch Books. p. 21. ISBN 1740455398.
HALOUMl Originating in Cyprus, this salty, semi-hard sheep's milk cheese is a popular table cheese
- ^ Goldstein, Darra – Merkle, Kathrin – Parasecoli, Fabio – Mennell, Stephen – Council of Europe (2005). Culinary cultures of Europe: identity, diversity and dialogue. Council of Europe. p. 121. ISBN 9287157448.
Most culinary innovations in the Cypriot cuisine occurred during the Byzantine era… Experimentation with dairy products resulted in the now-famous halloumi and feta cheese.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Cyprus villagers make giant sweet", BBC News, 18 October 2004
- ^ "Turks riled as Cyprus set to win EU trademark on Turkish Delight". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. 13 December 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "Cyprus Badminton Federation". Cyprusbadminton.com. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- Further reading
- Anastasiou, Harry (2008). Broken Olive Branch: Nationalism Ethnic Conflict and the Quest for Peace in Cyprus. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0815631960.
- Brewin, Christopher (2000). European Union and Cyprus. Eothen Press. ISBN 0-906719-24-0.
- Dods, Clement (ed.) (1999). Cyprus: The Need for New Perspectives. The Eothen Press. ISBN 0-906719-23-2.
{{cite book}}
:|author=
has generic name (help) - Durrell, Lawrence (1957). Bitter Lemons. Faber and Faber. ISBN 0-571201-55-5.
- Faustmann, Hubert and Nicos Peristianis (2006). Britain and Cyprus: Colonialism and Post-Colonialism, 1878–2006. Bibliopolis. ISBN 978-3-93392-536-7.
- Gibbons, Harry Scott (1997). The Genocide Files. Charles Bravos Publishers. ISBN 0-9514464-2-8.
- Hannay, David (2005). Cyprus: The Search for a Solution. I.B. Tauris. ISBN 1-85043-665-7.
- Hitchens, Christopher (1997). Hostage to History: Cyprus from the Ottomans to Kissinger. Verso. ISBN 1-85984-189-9.
- Ker-Lindsay, James (2005). EU Accession and UN Peacemaking in Cyprus. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1-4039-9690-3.
- Ker-Lindsay, James and Hubert Faustmann (2009). The Government and Politics of Cyprus. Peter Lang. ISBN 978-3-03911-096-4.
- Leventis Yiorghos, (2002). Cyprus: The Struggle for Self-Determination in the 1940s. Peter Lang. ISBN 3-631-38411-4.
{{cite book}}
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ignored (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - Leventis Yiorghos, Murata Sawayanagi Nanako, Hazama Yasushi (2008). Crossing Over Cyprus. Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA) Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS). ISBN 978-4-86337-003-6.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Mallinson, William (2005). Cyprus a Modern History. I. B. Tauris. ISBN 1-85043-580-4.
- Mirbagheri, Farid (1989). Cyprus and International Peacemaking. Hurst. ISBN 1-85065-354-2.
- Nicolet, Claude (2001). United States Policy Towards Cyprus, 1954–1974. Bibliopolis. ISBN 3-933925-20-7.
- Oberling, Pierre (1982). The Road to Bellapais. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-88033-000-7.
- O'Malley, Brendan and Ian Craig (1999). The Cyprus Conspiracy. I.B. Tauris. ISBN 1-86064-737-5.
- Palley, Claire (2005). An International Relations Debacle: The UN Secretary-General's Mission of Good Offices in Cyprus, 1999–2004. Hart Publishing. ISBN 1-84113-578-X.
- Papadakis, Yiannis (2005). Echoes from the Dead Zone: Across the Cyprus Divide. I.B. Tauris. ISBN 1-85043-428-X.
- Plumer, Aytug (2003). Cyprus, 1963–64: The Fateful Years. Cyrep (Lefkosa). ISBN 975-6912-18-9.
- Richmond, Oliver (1998). Mediating in Cyprus. Frank Cass. ISBN 0-7146-4431-5.
- Richmond, Oliver and James Ker-Lindsay (eds.) (2001). The Work of the UN in Cyprus: Promoting Peace and Development. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-91271-3.
{{cite book}}
:|author=
has generic name (help) - Richter, Heinz (2010). A Concise History of Modern Cyprus 1878-2009. Rutzen. ISBN 978-3-447-06212-1.
- Tocci, Nathalie (2004). EU Accession Dynamics and Conflict Resolution: Catalysing Peace or Consolidating Partition in Cyprus?. Ashgate. ISBN 0-7546-4310-7.
External links
- Government
- Cyprus High Commission Trade Centre – London
- Cypriot Diaspora Project
- Republic of Cyprus – English Language
- Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus
- Press and Information Office
- Annan Plan at annanplan.com
- Chief of State and Cabinet Members
- Cyprus Elections to European Parliament
- Tourism
- Read about Cyprus on visitcyprus.com – the official travel portal for Cyprus
- Pictures from Cyprus, updates every day, news, events, pictures
- General information
- "Cyprus". The World Factbook (2024 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency.
- [13]
- Cyprus from UCB Libraries GovPubs
- Cyprus information from the United States Department of State includes Background Notes, Country Study and major reports
- Cyprus at Curlie
- The UN in Cyprus
- Official publications
- The British government's Foreign Affairs Committee report on Cyprus.
- Letter by the President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, to the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, dated 7 June, which circulated as an official document of the UN Security Council
- Legal Issues arising from certain population transfers and displacements on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus in the period since 20 July 1974
- Address to Cypriots by President Papadopoulos (FULL TEXT)
- The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office, Aspects of the Cyprus Problem
- www, By (6 January 2009). "Noitiki Antistasis". Noitikiantistasis.com. Retrieved 6 January 2009. Non-affiliated news website focusing mainly on the effect of globalisation and foreign interests on the Cyprus problem
- European Court of Human Rights Case of Cyprus v. Turkey (Application no. 25781/94)
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- Official Cyprus Government Web Site
- Embassy of Greece, USA – Cyprus: Geographical and Historical Background
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