PERDIKIS]; New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of the
Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS];
Social Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly United Democratic Union
of Cyprus or EDEK) [Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement or
EDE [George VASSILIOU]; 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 pressure groups and leaders:
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)
International organization participation:
Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU
(observer affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 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 representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael KLOSSON
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
FAX: [357] (22) 780944
Flag description:
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 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 Cyprus
Economy - overview:
The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to
external shocks. The service sector, mainly tourism and financial
services, dominates the economy; 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. Economic policy is focused on meeting
the criteria to join the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2)
within the next two years although sluggish tourism and poor fiscal
management have resulted in growing budget deficits since 2001. As
in the Turkish sector, 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 2.6% 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. Ankara provides around $300 million a year
directly into the "TRNC" budget and regularly provides additional
financing for large infrastructure projects. Agriculture and
government service, together employ almost half of the work force,
and the potential for tourism is promising, especially with the
easing of border restrictions with the Greek Cypriots in April 2003.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $15.71 billion north
Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $4.54 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Republic of Cyprus: 3.2% north Cyprus: 2.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $20,300 (2004 est.);
north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $7,135 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 4.1%; industry 19.9%; services 76%
north Cyprus: agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%; services 68.9%
(2004)
Labor force:
Republic of Cyprus: 330,000, north Cyprus: 95,025 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 4.9%, industry 19.4%, services 75.6%
north Cyprus: agriculture 15.1%, industry 27%, services 57.9% (2003
est.)
Unemployment rate:
Republic of Cyprus: 3.2%; north Cyprus: 5.6% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Republic of Cyprus: 2.4% (2003 est.); north Cyprus: 12.6% (2003
est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Republic of Cyprus: 17.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:
revenues: Republic of Cyprus - $5.616 billion (2004 est.), north
Cyprus - $404.3 million (2003 est.)
expenditures: Republic of Cyprus - $685.7 million, including capital
expenditures of $685.7 million, north Cyprus - $775.7 million,
including