GOVERNMENT

NAME:
Republic of Cyprus

NOTE:
Independence was granded to the island in 1960 after a strucle against England. In 1974 a forceful Turkish invation divided the island. The results of the invasion were: 37% of the island is under Turkish occupation. 200,000 Cypriots are still refugees 1694 Greek Cypriots are still missing. On 15 Novermber 1983 the Turkish leader Rauf DENKTASH declared independance. His so called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) was declared immediately by all nations as non existent. It is only recognised by Turkey.

CAPITAL:
Nicosia

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:
6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos

CONSTITUTION:
16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island. In 1963 the Turkish Cypriot leadership, following there rejection to amendments to the constitution proposed by Archipishop Makarios (the president of Cyprus at that time), withdrew from all governmental activities and refused to cooperate with the elected government.

NATIONAL HOLIDAY:
Independence Day, 1 October

POLITICAL PARTIES AND LEADERS:

Greek Cypriot:
Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS; Democratic Rally (DISY), Glafkos CLERIDES; Democratic Party (DIKO), Spyros KYPRIANOU; United Democratic Union of the Center (EDEK), Vassos LYSSARIDIS; Socialist Democratic Renewal Movement (ADISOK), Mikhalis PAPAPETROU; Liberal Party, Nikos ROLANDIS; Free Democrats, George VASSILIOU
Turkish Cypriots:
National Unity Party (UBP), Dervis EROGLU; Communal Liberation Party (TKP), Mustafa AKINCI; Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Ozker OZGUR; New Cyprus Party (YKP), Alpay DURDURAN; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ergun VEHBI; New Birth Party (YDP), Ali Ozkan ALTINISHIK; Free Democratic Party (HDP), Ismet KOTAK; Nationalist Justice Party (MAP), Zorlu TORE; United Sovereignty Party, Arif Salih KIRDAG; Democratic Party (DP), Hakki ATUN; Fatherland Party (VP), Orhan UCOK; CTP, TKP, and YDP joined in the coalition Democratic Struggle Party (DMP) for the 22 April 1990 legislative election; the CTP and TKP boycotted the byelection of 13 October 1991, in which 12 seats were at stake; the DMP was dissolved after the 1990 election

ELECTIONS:

President: last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held February 1998); results - Glafkos CLERIDES 50.3%, George VASSILIOU 49.7%
House of Representatives: last held 19 May 1991; results - DISY 35.8%, AKEL (Communist) 30.6%, DIKO 19.5%, EDEK 10. 9%; others 3.2%; seats - (56 total) DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 7

HEAD OF GOVERNMENT:
President Glafkos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993)

MEMBER OF:
C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION IN US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael E. SHERIFIS
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 462-5772

FLAG:
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 above article was prepared mainly by using parts from CIA World Fact book and other sources of information about Cyprus.

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