conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

CY

republic
note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
separation was further solidified following the Turkish intervention
in July 1974 following a Greek junta-based coup attempt, which gave
the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots
control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November
1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence
and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC),
which has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for
the resolution of intercommunal differences and creation of a new
federal system (Greek Cypriot position) or confederate system (Turkish
Cypriot position) of government

Nicosia
note: the Turkish Cypriot area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)

6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca,
Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's
administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of
Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca

16 August 1960 (from UK)
note: Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975
from Republic of Cyprus

Independence Day, 1 October; note - Turkish Cypriot
area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day

16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a
new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own
constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State
of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area
passed by referendum on 5 May 1985

based on common law, with civil law modifications

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960
constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February
1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960
constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and
vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2003)
election results: Glafcos CLERIDES reelected president; percent of
vote - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2%
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot
area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for a
five-year term); elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to be
held NA April 2000); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president;
pecent of vote - Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis EROGLU 37.5%; Dervis
EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 16
August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish
Cypriot area

unicameral - Greek Cypriot area: House of
Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the
Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to
Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic
or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: Greek Cypriot area: last held 26 May 1996 (next to be held
May 2001); Turkish Cypriot area: last held 6 December 1998 (next to be
held December 2003)
election results: Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO
16.4%, EDEK 8.1%, KED 3.7%, others 4.3%; seats by party - DISY 20,
AKEL (Communist) 19, DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2; Turkish Cypriot area:
Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 40.3%, DP
22.6%, TKP 15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by
party - UBP 24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Supreme
Council of Judicature
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area

Greek Cypriot area: Democratic Party or
DIKO ; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos
ANASTASIADHIS]; Ecologists ; New Horizons
; Restorative Party of the
Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) ;
United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK ; United
Democrats Movement or EDI (formerly Free Democrats Movement or KED)
; Turkish Cypriot area: Communal Liberation Party or
TKP ; Democratic Party or DP ;
National Birth Party or UDP ; National Unity Party or UBP
; Our Party or BP ; Patriotic Unity
Movement or YBH ; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet
ALI TALAT]

Confederation of Cypriot
Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions
or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen;
Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled)

C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS (associate), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

chief of mission: Ambassador Erato KOZAKOU-MARCOULLIS
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:  (202) 462-5772
FAX:  (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet
ERDENGIZ; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone 
(202) 887-6198

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. BANDLER
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836
telephone:  (2) 776400
FAX:  (2) 780944

white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island
(the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two
green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches
symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and
Turkish communities
note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top
and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a white
field