LOCATION

PROFILE
Geography

Area: 9,251 sq. km. Capital: Nicosia Nationality: Cypriot Population: 803,200 (2009 est.) Population growth rate 1.4% Life expectancy at birth Total population: 79.35 years

Ethnic groups
Greek 77%, Turkish 18% other 5%

Religions Greek Orthodox 77%, Sunni Muslim 18%, Other Eastern Orthodox 1%, Other 4% Languages Greek, Turkish, English. Literacy 99%

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION Political System Presidential Democratic System of Government. Administrative Structure Unitary

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

Executive exercised by the President and the cabinet Legislative unicameral House of Representatives Judicial Supreme Court & six district courts

Executive
Under the 1960 Constitution, executive power is vested in the President of the Republic, elected by universal suffrage to a five-year term of office. The President exercises executive power through the Council of Ministers appointed by him. The President of the Republic The Ministries
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Ministry of Finance The Ministry of Interior The Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance The Ministry of Defense The Ministry of Justice and Public Order The Ministry and Education and Culture The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism The Ministry of Health The Ministry of Communications and Works The Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment

Demetris Christofias Assumed office 28 February 2008 Political party Progressive Party of Working People

Presidential Palace

Legislative
The

House of Representatives is

the parliament of Cyprus. It has 59 members

elected for a five year term.
The

laws and the decisions of the House are

passed by simple majority vote of the deputies

present.

House of Representatives

Judicial
The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The administration of justice is exercised by the :

Supreme Court of the Republic First instance courts

The Supreme Court is the final appellate court of the Republic. It is also vested with jurisdiction to determine the constitutionality of laws, rules and regulations.

The principal first instance courts are the:

District Courts The Assize Courts (four Assize Courts continuously

in session). The Military Court (one). The Industrial Disputes Court (having three branches). The Rent Control Courts (three). The Family Courts (two operating alternatively in every district of Cyprus).

Major political parties:

Cyprus has a multi-party system, with three or four strong parties who generally dominate the political landscape. Major parties:

The Progressive Party of The Working People (AKEL) Democratic Rally (DISY) New Cyprus Party National Unity Party Republican Turkish Party

Elections Cyprus elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. Members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms
Suffrage:

Universal at age 18.

European Union (EU)

July 3, 1990 Republic of Cyprus applied in the EU. Republic of Cyprus entered the EU on May 1, 2004. Cyprus adopted the Euro on January 1, 2008.

The main aims are:

1.) social and economic development; 2.) infrastructure, in particular energy and transport, environment, telecommunications and water supply; 3.) reconciliation, confidence building measures, and support to civil society; 4.) bringing the Turkish Cypriot community closer to the Union, through information on the EU, and contacts between Turkish Cypriots and other EU citizens; 5.) helping the Turkish Cypriot community to be ready to implement EU rules in case of a comprehensive settlement.

Foreign relations
Cyprus is member of:
United WTO WHO

Nations

ICC
UNESCO INTERPOL

The end

History
From the late 1500's two large settlements of Greeks and Turks lived side by side in harmony on the island until the British Empire took control in 1878. The country gained independence from United Kingdom in 1960. Cyprus political division took place in 1974. The Turks gained control of 30 % of the north of the island.

In 1975 the north proclaimed independence. They declared an independent "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983. They adopted their constitution in 1985. The election was held the same year. In 1988, George Vassilou, a firm critic of the U.N's plan to unify the island

 In

2004 dual referendums were held on reunification. One month later on the 4th of April an important symbolic step towards reunification. Happened in Nicosia.