<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Cyprus<nl>Government</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Republic of Cyprus
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Cyprus
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<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> CY
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> republic
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> 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 invasion of the island in July 1974, 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 of government
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 16 August 1960 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 1 October (15 November (1983) is celebrated as Independence Day in the Turkish area)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 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 area passed by referendum in 5 May 1985
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on common law, with civil law modifications
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> President Glafkos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held February 1998); results—Glafkos CLERIDES 50.3%, George VASSILIOU 49.7%
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; appointed jointly by the president and vice-president
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> Rauf R. DENKTASH has been president of the Turkish area since 13 February 1975; Hakki ATUN has been prime minister of the Turkish area since 1 January 1994; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish area
<item>• <hi format=ital>House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon):</hi> elections last held 19 May 1991 (next to be held NA); 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
<item>• <hi format=ital>Turkish Area: Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi):</hi> elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(50 total) UBP (conservative) 17, DP 15, CTP 13, TKP 5
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<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Supreme Court; note—there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>Greek Cypriot:</hi> Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL, Communist Party), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS; Democratic Rally (DISY), John MATSIS; 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
<item>• <hi format=ital>Turkish area:</hi> 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; National Struggle Party (MSP), Zorlu TORE; Unity and Sovereignty Party (USP), Arif Salih KIRDAG; Democratic Party (DP), Hakki ATUN; Fatherland Party (VP), Orhan UCOK
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> 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 by-election of 13 October 1991, in which 12 seats were at stake; the DMP was dissolved after the 1990 election
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<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> United Democratic Youth Organization (EDON, Communist controlled); Union of Cyprus Farmers (EKA, Communist controlled); Cyprus Farmers Union (PEK, pro-West); Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation (PEO, Communist controlled); Confederation of Cypriot Workers (SEK, pro-West); Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions (Turk-Sen); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions (Dev-Is)
<item>• <hi format=ital>consulate(s) general:</hi> New York
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> Representative of the Turkish area in the US is Namik KORMAN, office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington DC, telephone (202) 887-6198
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> 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
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom with a red crescent and red star on a white field