|RConstitution:|N Republic. De facto two separate republics, one Turkish Cypriot and one Greek Cypriot, with separate constitutions, presidents and parliaments.
|RNational holiday:|N Independence Day, October 1.
|RNature and climate:|N Cyprus is crossed by two forested mountainchains in east-western direction. Highest peak, Olympos, reaches 1952 m.a.s.l. Between these mountainchains is the fertile Messaria plateau.
Average temperature in January 10-12°C and in July 28°C.
Percipitation between 350 and 500 mm.
|RPeople:|N 78% Greeks, 19% Turks and some Armenians and Maronites. 53% of the population live in towns. 21% is occupied in agriculture, 20% in manufacturing, 18% in trade and 19% in different services.
|REconomy:|N During the Bronze Age, 1500 to 1000 BC, copper was the most important goods of trade. The metal got its name from the Greek name of Cyprus: Kypros.
After the civil war, 1974, Cyprus have two separate economies.
Before the war agriculture and tourism were the most important industries of the island.
At the division the Greeks lost vast areas, but they have achieved a great recovering on the south part of the island.
Agriculture is not able to produce enough food for the population, which make import necessary.
Most important crops are grain, grapes, carobs, citrus fruits, potatoes and olives.
Most important exportgoods are citrus fruits, vegetables, copper, other minerals and cement.
Most important minerals are copper, pyrites and asbestos.
In the Turkish part the economic recovering have been much slower and been directed towards a reconstruction of the citrus plantations. To this part comes mainly Turkish tourists. Economy is dependent on Turkey.
|RHistory:|N Archeological finds show a first highly developed culture about 5500 BC.
A second time of prosperity occurred at the later part of the Bronze Age 1500 to 1000 BC, when copper was the main product of trade and connections were lively with Egypt, Greece and the Orient.
The island was colonized by the Greeks. From about 1300 BC extended trade with the Fenicians, which ended with Fenician occupation 950 BC.
After that the rulers came from Assyria, Egypt, Persia, Greece and Arabia.
Cyprus gained independence in 1185 AD. 1192, in connection with the Crusades, the Frankish dynasty Lusignan gained power and ruled as kings till 1489, when Venice conquered the island. From 1570 under Turkish sovereignty. Turkey left over the administration to Great Britain in 1878.
Annexed by Britain 1914 and from 1925 a Crown colony.
Independence in 1960.
Many Greek Cypriots had since long ago demanded that Cyprus should be united with Greece, Enosis.
Bloody clashes between Greeks and Turks in 1963, and since then UN troops have been on the island.
In 1974 the government was overthrown in a coup led by Greece-friendly officers, and this led to a civil war between Greeks and Turks.
Turkey intervened to help the Turks and rapidly occupied 40% of the island.
In 1975 a majority of the Turks voted for the creation of a Turkish federative nation. A president and a parliament was elected in 1976.
During the civil war 200 000 Greeks were forced away from their homes.
Several attempts to find a solution for Cyprus have failed.
