from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Cyprus
Introduction
Background: A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in
1960 following years of resistance to British rule.
Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish
Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when
violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite
the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic
intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish
Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974,
a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to seize control
of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey,
which soon controlled more than a third of the island.
In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the
"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is
recognized only by Turkey. The latest two-year round of
UN-brokered talks - between the leaders of the Greek
Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an
agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when
the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in
an April 2004 referendum. The entire island entered the
EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of
common rights and obligations - applies only to the
areas under direct Republic of Cyprus control, and is
suspended in the areas administered by Turkish
Cypriots. At present, every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus
passport has the status of a European citizen; however,
EU laws do not apply to north Cyprus. Nicosia continues
to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and
economic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging
the Turkish Cypriot community to continue to support
reunification.
Geography
Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
Turkey
Geographic 35 00 N, 33 00 E
coordinates:
Map Middle East
references:
Area: total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north
Cyprus)
land: 9,240 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
comparative:
Land total: NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being
boundaries: resurveyed
border countries: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia NA
Coastline: 648 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool
winters
Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south;
scattered but significant plains along southern coast
Elevation lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
extremes: highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m
Natural copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt,
resources: marble, clay earth pigment
Land use: arable land: 10.81%
permanent crops: 4.32%
other: 84.87% (2005)
Irrigated 400 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural moderate earthquake activity; droughts
hazards:
Environment - water resource problems (no natural reservoir
current catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water
issues: intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased
salination in the north); water pollution from sewage
and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of
wildlife habitats from urbanization
Environment - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent
international Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
agreements: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea
note: (after Sicily and Sardinia)
People
Population: 784,301 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.4% (male 81,776/female 78,272)
15-64 years: 68% (male 270,254/female 263,354)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 39,536/female 51,109)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 34.9 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 35.9 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.53% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 12.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 7.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 8.74 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 77.82 years
expectancy at male: 75.44 years
birth: female: 80.31 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.82 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.1% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - less than 1,000 (1999 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - NA
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups: Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)
Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian
Apostolic, and other 4%
Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Kypros/Kibris
note: the Turkish Cypriot community (north Cyprus)
refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" (TRNC)
Government republic
type: note: a separation of the two ethnic communities
inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of
communal strife in 1963; this separation was further
solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974
that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt 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 is recognized only by Turkey
Capital: name: Nicosia (Lefkosia)
geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in
March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol,
divisions: Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's
administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a
small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosia
(Nicosia) and Larnaca
Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots
proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and
independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only
recognized by Turkey
National Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish
holiday: Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence
Day
Constitution: 16 August 1960; from December 1963, the Turkish
Cypriots no longer participated in the government;
negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised
constitution to govern the island and for better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been
held intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975,
following the 1974 Turkish intervention, Turkish
Cypriots created their own constitution and governing
bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus,"
which became the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"
when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence
in 1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by
referendum on 5 May 1985
Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1
branch: March 2003); 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 Tassos PAPADOPOULOS
(since 1 March 2003); note - 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 16 February 2003
(next to be held February 2008)
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected
president; percent of vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%,
Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6%
note: Mehmet Ali TALAT became "president" of north
Cyprus, 24 April 2005, after "presidential" elections
on 17 April 2005; results - Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%,
Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is "prime
minister"; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in
north Cyprus, appointed by the "prime minister"
Legislative unicameral - Republic of Cyprus: House of
branch: 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); north Cyprus: Assembly of the
Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Republic of Cyprus: last held 27 May 2001
(next to be held 21 May 2006); north Cyprus: last held
14 December 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: Republic of Cyprus: House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL
34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS 6.51%, others
9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19,
DIKO 9, KISOS 4, other 4; north Cyprus: Assembly of the
Republic - percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP
32.3%, Peace and Democratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%;
seats by party - CTP 19, UBP 18, Peace and Democratic
Movement 6, DP 7
Judicial Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the
branch: president and vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in north Cyprus
Political Republic of Cyprus: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos
parties and PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos
leaders: ANASTASIADHIS]; European Democracy or EURO.DE
[Prodromos PRODROMOU] (evolved from For Europe which
merged with New Horizons); European Party or EURO.KO
[Demetris SYLLOURIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or
ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George
PERDIKIS]; Movement for Social Democracy United
Democratic Union of Center or KISOS [Yannakis OMIROU];
Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL
(Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; United
Democrats Movement or EDE [Michalis PAPAPETROU]; north
Cyprus: Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH];
National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National
Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP
[Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH
[Alpay DURDURAN]; Peace and Democratic Movement
[Mustafa AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP
[Mehmet ALI TALAT]
Political Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West);
pressure Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is;
groups and Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen;
leaders: Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist
controlled)
International Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member),
organization FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
participation: IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES
representation chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
in the US: telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community
in the US is Osman ERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW,
Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald L. SCHLICHER
representation embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets,
from the US: 2407 Engomi, Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
FAX: [357] (22) 780944
Flag white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island
description: (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 Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag
has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom
between which is a red crescent and red star on a white
field
Economy
Economy - The Republic of Cyprus has a market economy dominated
overview: by the service sector, which accounts for 76% of GDP.
Tourism and financial services are the most important
sectors; erratic growth rates over the past decade
reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often
fluctuates with political instability in the region and
economic conditions in Western Europe. Nevertheless,
the economy grew a healthy 3.7% per year in 2004 and
2005, well above the EU average. Cyprus joined the
European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005.
The government has initiated an aggressive austerity
program, which has cut the budget deficit to below 3%
but continued fiscal discipline is necessary if Cyprus
is to meet its goal of adopting the euro on 1 January
2008. As in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots,
water shortages are a perennial problem; a few
desalination plants are now on line. After 10 years of
drought, the country received substantial rainfall from
2001-03 alleviating immediate concerns. The Turkish
Cypriot economy has roughly one-third of the per capita
GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be
volatile, given north Cyprus's relative isolation,
bloated public sector, reliance on the Turkish lira,
and small market size. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew
15.4% in 2004, fueled by growth in the construction and
education sectors, as well as increased employment of
Turkish Cypriots in the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish
Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the
Turkish Government. Under the 2003-06 economic
protocol, Ankara plans to provide around $550 million
to the "TRNC." Agriculture and services, together,
employ more than half of the work force.
GDP Republic of Cyprus: $16.81 billion; north Cyprus: $4.54
(purchasing billion (2005 est.)
power parity):
GDP (official Republic of Cyprus: $15.4 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real Republic of Cyprus: 3.8%; north Cyprus: 10.6% (2005
growth rate: est.)
GDP - per Republic of Cyprus: $21,600 (2005 est.); north Cyprus:
capita (PPP): $7,135 (2004 est.)
GDP - Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 3.7%; industry 19.8%;
composition by services 76.5% (2005 est.)
sector: north Cyprus: agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%;
services 68.9% (2003 est.)
Labor force: Republic of Cyprus: 370,000, north Cyprus: 95,025 (2005
est.)
Labor force - Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 7.4%, industry 38.2%,
by occupation: services 54.4% (2004 est.)
north Cyprus: agriculture 14.5%, industry 29%, services
56.5% (2004 est.)
Unemployment Republic of Cyprus: 4% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 5.6%
rate: (2004 est.)
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate Republic of Cyprus: 2.6% (2005 est.); north Cyprus:
(consumer 9.1% (2004 est.)
prices):
Investment Republic of Cyprus: 19.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: Republic of Cyprus - $6.698 billion (2005
est.)
expenditures: Republic of Cyprus - $7.122 billion (2005
est.)
revenues: $685.7 million; north Cyprus - $231.3 million
(2003 est.)
expenditures: north Cyprus - $432.8 million (2003 est.)
Public debt: Republic of Cyprus: 70.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables;
products: poultry, pork, lamb; dairy, cheese
Industries: tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and
gypsum production, ship repair and refurbishment,
textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper,
stone, and clay products
Industrial Republic of Cyprus: 0.4% (2005 est.); north Cyprus:
production -0.3% (2002 est.)
growth rate:
Electricity - Republic of Cyprus: 3.801 billion kWh; north Cyprus: NA
production: kWh (2003)
Electricity - fossil fuel: 100%
production by hydro: 0%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - Republic of Cyprus: 3.535 billion kWh (2004); north
consumption: Cyprus: NA kWh (2003)
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - Republic of Cyprus: 300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
production:
Oil - Republic of Cyprus: 52,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Current Republic of Cyprus: $-962.3 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: Republic of Cyprus: $1.237 billion f.o.b.; north
Cyprus: $69 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - Republic of Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals,
commodities: cement, clothing and cigarettes; north Cyprus: citrus,
potatoes, textiles
Exports - France 17.7%, UK 17%, Greece 12.2%, Germany 5.7% (2005)
partners:
Imports: Republic of Cyprus: $5.552 billion f.o.b.;; north
Cyprus: $415.2 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - Republic of Cyprus: consumer goods, petroleum and
commodities: lubricants, intermediate goods, machinery, transport
equipment; north Cyprus: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes,
food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
Imports - Greece 17.3%, Italy 10.3%, UK 9%, Germany 8.4%, Israel
partners: 7.1% (2005)
Reserves of Republic of Cyprus: $4.429 billion; north Cyprus $NA
foreign (2005 est.)
exchange and
gold:
Debt - Republic of Cyprus: $10.53 billion; north Cyprus: $NA
external: (2005 est.)
Economic aid - Republic of Cyprus - $NA; north Cyprus - $700 million
recipient: from Turkey in grants and loans, which are usually
forgiven (2003-06)
Currency Republic of Cyprus: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish
(code): Cypriot area: Turkish New lira (YTL)
Currency code: CYP; TRL
Exchange Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686
rates: (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002), 0.6431 (2001),
Turkish lira per US dollar - 1.36 (2005), 1.426 million
(2004), 1.501 million (2003), 1.507 million (2002),
1.226 million (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - Republic of Cyprus: 420,000 (2005); north Cyprus:
main lines in 86,228 (2002)
use:
Telephones - Republic of Cyprus: 718,800 (2005); north Cyprus:
mobile 143,178 (2002)
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: excellent in both Republic of
system: Cyprus and north Cyprus areas
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave
radio relay
international: country code - 357 (area administered by
Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90);
tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic
submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat
(1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2
Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
Radio Republic of Cyprus: AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0
broadcast north Cyprus: AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2004)
stations:
Radios: Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot
area: 56,450 (1994)
Television Republic of Cyprus: 8
broadcast north Cyprus: 2 (plus 4 relay) (2004)
stations:
Televisions: Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot
area: 52,300 (1994)
Internet .cy
country code:
Internet 67,589 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 6 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 298,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 16 (2006)
Airports - total: 13
with paved 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 3
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
runways: under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Heliports: 10 (2006)
Roadways: total: 14,496 km (Republic of Cyprus: 12,146 km; north
Cyprus: 2,350 km)
paved: Republic of Cyprus: 7,845 km (including 276 km
of expressways); north Cyprus: 1,370 km
unpaved: Republic of Cyprus: 4,301 km; north Cyprus:
980 km (2005/1996 est.)
Merchant total: 884 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,477,944 GRT/
marine: 31,157,473 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 354, cargo 210, chemical tanker
44, container 145, liquefied gas 8, passenger 7,
passenger/cargo 23, petroleum tanker 64, refrigerated
cargo 15, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 777 (Belgium 1, Canada 2, China 11,
Croatia 2, Cuba 2, Denmark 1, Estonia 6, Germany 214,
Greece 337, Greenland 1, Hong Kong 1, India 5, Iran 2,
Ireland 3, Israel 3, Italy 2, Japan 17, South Korea 1,
Latvia 4, Netherlands 18, Norway 16, Philippines 1,
Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 53, Singapore 1, Slovakia
1, Slovenia 4, Spain 7, Sweden 3, Switzerland 4, Syria
3, UAE 11, UK 6, Ukraine 4, US 7, unknown 1)
registered in other countries: 87 (Bahamas 13, Belize
2, Cambodia 12, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 1, Isle
of Man 1, Liberia 3, Malta 15, Marshall Islands 15,
Norway 2, Panama 14, Portugal 1, Russia 2, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Turkey 2)
(2006)
Ports and Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos
terminals:
Military
Military Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG;
branches: includes air and naval elements); north Cyprus: Turkish
Cypriot Security Force (GKK)
Military 18 years of age (2004)
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
available for males age 18-49: 184,352
military females age 18-49: 175,567 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower fit Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
for military males age 18-49: 150,750
service: females age 18-49: 144,344 (2005 est.)
Manpower Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
reaching males age 18-49: 6,578
military females age 18-49: 6,200 (2005 est.)
service age
annually:
Military $384 million (FY02)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 3.8% (FY02)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de
international: facto autonomous entities, the internationally
recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot
community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN
Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in
Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between
north and south; March 2003 reunification talks failed,
but Turkish-Cypriots later opened their borders to
temporary visits by Greek Cypriots; on 24 April 2004,
the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities voted
in simultaneous and parallel referenda on whether to
approve the UN-brokered Annan Plan that would have
ended the 30-year division of the island by
establishing a new "United Cyprus Republic," a majority
of Greek Cypriots voted "no"; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus
entered the European Union still divided, with the EU's
body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire)
suspended in the north
Refugees and IDPs: 265,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many
internally displaced for over 30 years) (2005)
displaced
persons:
Trafficking in current situation: Cyprus is primarily a destination
persons: country for a large number of women trafficked from
Eastern and Central Europe, the Philippines, and the
Dominican Republic for the purpose of sexual
exploitation; traffickers continued to fraudulently
recruit victims for work as dancers in cabarets and
nightclubs on short-term "artiste" visas, for work in
pubs and bars on employment visas, or for illegal work
on tourist or student visas; there were credible
reports of female domestic workers from India, Sri
Lanka, and the Philippines forced to work excessively
long hours and denied proper compensation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cyprus does not fully
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination
of trafficking and failed to show evidence of
increasing efforts to address its serious trafficking
for sexual exploitation problem; however, it is making
significant efforts to do so
Illicit drugs: minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air
routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from
Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well;
despite a strengthening of anti-money-laundering
legislation, remains vulnerable to money laundering;
reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector
remains weak