Where is Cyprus located in which country? Where to stay

Date of writing: 20.10.2023

Reading time: 60 minutes

is an island state in the Mediterranean Sea whose claimed territory includes part of the island of Cyprus, excluding the British military bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, and several nearby islands.

Geography

The Republic of Cyprus controls 60% of the territory of the island of Cyprus, of the declared 98% (not including the territory of the military bases of the United Kingdom), as well as the islands of Agios Georgios, Geronisos, Glyukiotissa, Kila, Kiedes, Cordylia and Mazaki.

Population

Since the division, the vast majority of Greek Cypriots live in the south, while the Turks live in the north. The total population is about 790 thousand people, of which 160 thousand are Turks. Also in Cyprus live 17 thousand Englishmen, 35 thousand Russians, 4 thousand Armenians. After the 1974 war, some 180,000 Greek Cypriots fled or were forcibly resettled to the south. About 42 thousand Turks moved to the north. And only in the city of Pyla, Larnaca district, under the UN-appointed administration, both groups of the population live.

Religion

The majority of the population of Cyprus - ethnic Greeks - professes Orthodox Christianity, while the ethnic Turks profess Islam.

The Cypriot Orthodox Church has the status of a quasi-state institution and plays a prominent role in the socio-political life of the country; Primate of the Cyprus Church - Archbishop of New Justiniana and all Cyprus. In addition to the temples (more than 500) found in almost every village, the church has 11 monasteries in Cyprus, which own significant and most fertile lands on the island, with year-round artificial irrigation, and other large property.

The Armenian, Catholic, Maronite churches, as well as Judaism and other religions are represented..

The 1960 Constitution (Article 19) stipulates that every person has the right to freedom of speech, conscience and religion. All religions are equal before the law and no legislative, executive or administrative act of the Republic may discriminate against any religious institution or religious organization. Every person has the right to freedom of religion, he can study his religion individually or collectively. The only valid restrictions on such freedom are defined in the Constitution of the Republic and control the security of the Republic and its citizens. All these regulations indicate that there is no religion recognized as official on the island. They also guarantee the protection of the rights of the three religious groups that make up a minority of the population (Catholics, Armenians and Maronites).

Story

The advantageous strategic position of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea contributed to the fact that during its history it changed hands more than once, remaining on the periphery of various empires. Having become part of Byzantium in 395, it was captured by the crusader troops of Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade in 1191, becoming one of the Crusader states. Already in 1192, the island was transferred to the French crusader Guy de Lusignan, who founded the Lusignan dynasty in the Kingdom of Cyprus.

In 1489, the last queen of Cyprus, Eugenia Cornaro, transferred the island to the Venetian Republic, which was already defeated by the Turks in 1571. Ottoman rule in Cyprus continued until 1878. In 1878, the Cyprus Convention of 1878 was concluded between the British Empire and Turkey, a secret Anglo-Turkish treaty on a “defensive alliance” directed against Russia. The treaty was signed on June 4, 1878 in Istanbul before the opening of the 1878 Berlin Congress. Great Britain pledged to help the Ottoman Empire “by force of arms” if Russia, having retained Batum, Ardahan and Kars, tried to acquire new territories in Asia Minor. In exchange, Türkiye agreed to the British occupation of the island of Cyprus. The convention was annulled by the British on November 5, 1914 due to Turkey's entry into World War I on the side of Germany and the annexation of Cyprus by Great Britain.

The island gained independence in 1960, soon becoming the scene of clashes between the Greek and Turkish communities. In 1974, the island was actually divided into Greek and Turkish parts. In 2004, Cyprus joined the European Union, and in 2008 it joined the eurozone.

Transport

The British colonial authorities built a railway on the island. It opened in 1905 and had 39 stations and stops, including Famagusta and Nicosia. In 1951-52 it was closed due to low profitability.

The roads in Cyprus are among the best in the European Union, and are divided into main, auxiliary asphalt, country roads and motorways. Driving is on the left. The main 4 roads run along the southern coast from Larnaca to Limassol and lead to Nicosia.

The only form of public transport is buses. Cyprus has two international airports, in Paphos (16 km from the city) and in Larnaca (2 km from the city). There is a regular flight from Moscow to Larnaca - Aeroflot, Transaero. There is also an airport in Nicosia, but due to the Greek-Turkish conflict it is closed. The main airline serving the island is Cyprus Airways.

Larnaca Airport opened in 1975, following the forced closure of Nicosia Airport, and is partly located on land previously used by Britain as a military base.

Major seaports, after the closure of Famagusta, are Limassol and Larnaca.

Tourism

The tourism industry is one of the main sources of national income. The Cyprus Tourist Organization (CTO) is responsible for it. A significant part of the population works in this sector, and the profit brought by tourism is the main source of foreign currency income to the republic’s budget. Over the past 4 years, the number of tourists visiting Cyprus has increased by 29%, and income from tourism has increased by 40%.

Largest resorts:
Larnaca
Pathos
Limassol
Ayia Napa
Protaras
Famagusta (under TRNC control).
Kyrenia (under TRNC control).

Many beaches in Cyprus have been awarded the Blue Flag of the European Union for their environmental cleanliness and infrastructure. Most of these beaches are municipal; there is a fee for renting sun loungers and parasols.

The city of Nicosia (Leukosia) is the capital and largest city of Cyprus. It is located in the center of the island, and is divided by the “green line”. The urban areas to the north of it are controlled by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The second largest city in Cyprus is the seaport of Limassol, founded in Byzantine times. To the west of it is the British sovereign base of Akrotiri.

Among the resorts in Cyprus, Ayia Napa is the center of club life, along with Ibiza, and is aimed mainly at young people. For family holidays, mainly Paphos and Protaras are suitable.

The city of Paphos is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and is also famous for its nearby Aphrodite Bay. According to legend, in this place the goddess of love and beauty was born from sea foam.

The sights of Cyprus are a mixture of different eras - the Byzantine castle of Kolossi, in which Isaac Comnenus took refuge from the crusaders, the church in which Richard I the Lionheart married Princess Berengaria of Navarre, Venetian fortresses, British left-hand traffic.

The main attraction in the north of the island is Famagusta with the medieval Othello Tower, and the “ghost town” (Varosha quarter).

Geographical proximity to a number of Mediterranean countries allows tourists to take sea cruises to Egypt, Israel, the island of Rhodes or Jordan.

Cruise ships depart from the seaports of Larnaca and Limassol, and correspond to 3-5 star hotels. The cruise time is usually about two days. Upon arrival in Israel, a visa requirement applies; entry may be denied.

When renting cars by Russian citizens, a standard driver's license is accepted; an international driver's license is not required. There may be an age limit depending on the car rental company.

Cars rented to tourists have red license plates that begin with the letter Z.

It should be remembered that traffic in Cyprus is on the left.

All drivers must give way to pedestrians moving along a pedestrian crossing.

In cities such as Nicosia, Larnaca, etc., you can get stuck in traffic jams; Free parking may also be difficult.

The British heritage includes, in addition to driving on the left, a power supply standard - three-pin sockets (one of them is grounding, analogous to the side contact of a Euro plug), but the voltage is not 230V, as in the UK, but 240V.

The local population traditionally adheres to Orthodox Christianity. There are a large number of Orthodox churches on the island, and many Orthodox icons are on sale. Among the attractions of Cyprus are Orthodox shrines, such as the tomb of St. Lazarus in Larnaca.

Many shops and banks on the island are closed on Wednesday and Saturday, and on weekdays - only 8-00 - 13-00 and 15-00-17-30 in winter, 16-00 - 19-00 in summer.

There remains some tension in relations between the two communities. When communicating with Greek Cypriots, it is not recommended to mention the Turkish occupation of the northern part of the island. A particularly painful topic is the “ghost town” of Varosha.

Photographing the border zone between the Greek and Turkish sectors, military personnel and military installations is prohibited.

Among the ethnic Greeks in Cyprus you can find a certain number of immigrants from the former USSR (Pontic Greeks).

Currency

Until January 1, 2008, the national currency was the Cypriot pound (CYP). 1 CYP was approximately equal to 2 US dollars, and was divided into 100 cents. The banknotes had inscriptions in three languages - English, Greek and Turkish.

The equivalent of "pound" is "lira", commonly used in Turkish in Cyprus.

The pound was established in 1879, and until 1960 was equal to the British pound sterling. Just like the pound sterling, it was divided into 20 shillings. However, unlike the pound sterling, it was divided into 9 piastres (kurus), which established a connection with the previous currency, the Turkish lira, which was also divided into kurus. Following the example of the Turkish lira, piastres (kurusi) were divided into 40 para. The pair were never used on coins or banknotes, but were included on postage stamps.

Coins of ¼, ½ and 1 piastre were introduced. The quarter piastre coin was called by the Greek Cypriots dekara (from deka - “ten”), since it was equal to ten para, ½ piastre - ikosara (“ikosi” - twenty). Coins were also issued in 3, 4½, 9, 18 piastres, 1 and 2 shillings.

In 1959, Cyprus introduced a decimal system, dividing the pound into 1,000 milles (“thousandths”). The 5 mille coin was called the “piastra” (approximate analogue), and the 20 mille coin was called the “shilling” (exact analogue). In 1983, the division into 100 cents ("hundredths") was additionally introduced. The smallest coin remained the 5 mille, renamed the ½ cent, and subsequently cancelled.

Mille coins are currently out of circulation. 1 or 2 cent coins are rare. Typically, sellers try to round prices to the nearest 5 cents.

From January 1, 2008, the transition to the euro was carried out at a fixed rate of 0.585274 CYP per euro. The decision on this was made by the European Commission on May 16, 2007 (together with Malta), confirmed by the European Parliament on June 20, 2007, and by the leaders of the European Union on June 21, 2007. The exchange rate was determined at a meeting of EU finance ministers on July 10, 2007.

Pounds remained in legal circulation (when paid in cash) until January 31, 2008. Banknotes were accepted by banking institutions until June 30, 2008.

The largest bank in Cyprus is Bank of Cyprus.

Politic system

After independence, Cyprus became a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, despite the fact that all three guarantor powers (Britain, Greece and Turkey) were members of NATO. In 2004, Cyprus left the Non-Aligned Movement in order to join the European Union, but retained a special observer status in this organization.

The 1960 constitution envisioned a presidential republic with separation of powers between executive, legislative and judicial, and quotas to protect the interests of ethnic Turks. The President and Vice President were elected by the Greek and Turkish communities respectively for a five-year term, and had the right to veto certain initiatives of the legislative and executive branches.

The House of Representatives was elected on the basis of separate votes from both communities. Since 1964, the seats of the Turkish community have remained unoccupied.

After the split of the island, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is headed by a President and a Prime Minister, responsible to the National Assembly.

The TRNC authorities reject the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus over the entire territory of the island, and call it “the Greek authorities of Southern Cyprus”. Accordingly, the Republic of Cyprus and the international community, with the exception of Turkey, do not recognize the TRNC, and designate it as “territories occupied by Turkish troops.”

Administrative division

The Republic of Cyprus is divided into 6 regions (Greek: επαρχίες dioceses).
Nicosia (Λευκωσία Levkosia), tour. Lefkoşa (Levkosha) - divided between the Greek and Turkish sectors;
Famagusta (Αμμόχωστος Amokhostos), tour. Gazimağusa, Mağusa (Gazimagusa, Magusa) - Turkish sector;
Kyrenia (Κυρέvεια), tour. Girne (Girne) - Turkish sector;
Larnaca (Λάρνακα), tour. Lârnaka, İskele (Larnaca, Iskele) - Greek sector;
Limassol (Λεμεσός Lemesos) - Greek sector;
Paphos (Πάφος), tour. Baf (Baf) - Greek sector.

Enclaves and exclaves

Cyprus has four exclaves belonging to the British sovereign bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.

Between the Greek and Turkish sectors there is a UN buffer zone, which is de facto (but not de jure) also an exclave.

International status

Since May 1, 2004, Cyprus has been a member of the European Union. Citizens of the Russian Federation are required to obtain a uniform EU visa. As of November 2007, Cyprus is not part of the Schengen zone.

The legal route of arrival to the island is through Paphos or Larnaca airports, or the seaports of Larnaca or Limassol. Illegal - through Turkey, and the ports of Northern Cyprus, sea or air.

Since January 1, 2008, Cyprus has been part of the eurozone, that is, the national currency - the Cypriot pound - has been replaced by the euro.

The Republic of Cyprus adheres to a policy of non-alignment and is not a member of NATO.

The Turkish sector is indicated on maps as “territory inaccessible due to Turkish occupation”, the same on the map of the northern part of the city of Nicosia. The names of the cities in Northern Cyprus are given as of 1974; there are no road signs for these cities.

Cyprus Map

Properties located in Northern Cyprus, which were owned by ethnic Greeks until 1974, continue to be considered their property. The purchase of such real estate may be considered legal in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but the authorities in the Greek sector may regard such a step as buying stolen property.

Formally, 98% of the island’s territory is under the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, minus the British military bases. De facto, 38% of the territory is occupied by the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Movement between the two parts of the island is free, provided you have a legal visa from the Republic of Cyprus. A visa for the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is issued upon entry. Insurance coverage may not apply to Turkish territory.

When returning from the northern part of the island, a customs inspection may be carried out. Since prices in Turkish territory are significantly lower, the import of goods from it is limited.

The Republic of Cyprus may refuse entry to persons who have a stamp in their passport indicating a visit to the Republic of Macedonia. This fact is connected with the dispute between this state and Greece over its name.

Diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union were established in August 1960. On April 7, 1992, the Republic of Cyprus recognized the Russian Federation as the legal successor of the USSR. Russian embassies are located in the cities of Nicosia and Larnaca.

Persons with a visitor visa are prohibited from working. A work permit must be obtained before arriving in the Republic of Cyprus.

Referendum on island unification

In April 2004, referendums were held in both Cypriot republics on unification into a single state. The proposed plan for unifying the island was named after its author, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. 65% of TRNC citizens participating in the referendum supported Annan’s plan, 75% of Greek Cypriots rejected the plan.

Membership in international organizations

The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the following organizations: Australian Chemical and Biological Weapons Monitoring Group, British Commonwealth of Nations, Council of Europe, EU Common Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, European Union, Food and Agriculture Organization UN (FAO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Civil Aviation Organization, International Chamber of Commerce, International Criminal Court, International Meteorological Organization, International Monetary Fund, International Hydrographic Organization, International Labor Organization, International Finance Corporation, International Development Fund Agriculture, International Development Association, International Trade Union Confederation, Interpol, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), International Telecommunication Union, Non-Aligned Movement, Inter-Parliamentary Union, International Organization for Migration, Nuclear Suppliers Group, International Olympic Committee, Permanent Court of Arbitration, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OSCE, UN, UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), World Federation of Trade Unions, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Meteorological Organization, World Health Organization, World Confederation of Labor, World Customs Organization, World Tourism Organization, Universal Postal Union, WTO.

Economy

Advantages: tourism contributes 20% of GDP. Industry and services for neighboring eastern countries. Member of the EU.

Weaknesses: Requirement for stricter control and action against capital flight and taxes. Limited liberalization. There is no foreign investment in Northern Cyprus.

The economy of Cyprus is strongly influenced by the division of the island into the Greek sector (Republic of Cyprus) and the Turkish sector (the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus).

The Greek sector's economy is thriving, but is highly exposed to external risks. Growth rates in the 1990s reflect the island's dependence on fluctuations in tourist numbers and changes in economic conditions in Western Europe. In January 2008, the island entered the Eurozone, and its monetary policy will be dictated by the European Central Bank.

The Turkish sector represents one fifth of the population and one third of the GNP compared to the Greek part of the island. Due to the fact that it is only recognized by Turkey, Northern Cyprus has difficulties with international financing and foreign firms generally avoid investing there. Half of the workforce is employed in agriculture, government and military service. In circulation in the northern part of the island is the Turkish lira. Türkiye also provides direct and indirect assistance to tourism, education, industry, etc.

In both sectors there is a problem of water supply, and the construction of desalination plants is planned.

Past and present: Offshore sector and the lowest taxes in the EU

The offshore regime for International Business Companies, which was in force since January 1, 1977, ceased on May 1, 2004 (since the Republic of Cyprus joined the EU). The offshore regime of Cyprus assumed the application of a corporate tax rate of 4.25% for companies that did not operate in the territory of the Republic. Currently, international business companies do not exist (they were either liquidated or re-registered during 2004-2005). The Income Tax Act 2002 imposes a general corporation tax rate of 10% on all types of companies (the lowest in the European Union). The existence of resident and non-resident companies is provided for.

A tax resident of Cyprus is a company whose management is located in Cyprus, and whose effective management takes place in Cyprus (it is sufficient that a large number of directors, for example 2 out of 3, are tax residents of Cyprus, or better yet citizens, and also that all meetings of the board of directors and decisions on transactions, etc. were made in Cyprus). A tax resident individual is a person who has been in Cyprus for more than 183 days. It is important to note that an Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation was signed between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cyprus in 1998.

The formation, operation and liquidation of companies is regulated by the Companies Law of the Republic of Cyprus (The Companies Law, Cap. 113). The main motive for purchasing a company registered in the Republic of Cyprus is that, according to paragraph 22 of Art. 8 “Exemptions” of the Law of the Republic of Cyprus dated July 15, 2002 No. 118(I)/2002 “On Income Tax”, income from the sale of securities is exempt from taxation. Securities in the Republic of Cyprus are understood as shares, bonds, government bonds or shares of participants in companies or other legal entities established both in Cyprus and in any other jurisdiction (bills of exchange do not apply to them).

In December 2008, the State Revenue Service of the Republic of Cyprus issued information letter No. 2008/13 dated December 17, 2008, containing an expanded list of “securities” for income tax purposes of legal entities. This clarification comes into force from the moment the letter is issued.

In accordance with the above list, securities may include:
ordinary shares, founders' shares and preferred shares;
bonds, debentures and claims on bonds and debentures;
options on securities;
short options positions, futures, forwards and swaps on securities;
depository receipts for securities;
derivative securities linked to various indices;
repurchase agreements for securities;
shares in the capital of companies that do not have shares (shares in the capital of Russian LLCs);
shares in open or closed investment funds established, registered and operating in accordance with the provisions of the legislation of the country in which they are created.

The following types of companies can be created in Cyprus:
private limited company (may be exempt)
public limited company

Most often, Cypriot companies are used as holding companies, financial group companies, investment companies, international trading companies, leasing companies, companies in royalty schemes.

In addition, for Cypriot resident companies (who pay taxes in Cyprus), the application of EU tax directives is available, which provides various benefits. See EU Tax Law in detail.

The volume of accumulated investments coming to Russia from Cyprus and even more through Cyprus, by 2008 amounted to more than 40 billion US dollars (out of a total volume of approximately 200 billion). Cyprus is consistently in the top three in terms of investment in the Russian economy. This is directly related to preferential taxation in Cyprus.

Since 2008, preferential taxation of dividends has been applied in Russia if their recipients are Russian organizations that have subsidiaries with their strategic participation, located both abroad and in Russia. The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation has approved a list of states to which these norms do not apply. Cyprus is one of these countries. The Cypriot authorities call this list “black” and consider it a serious problem. Currently, the Russian Ministry of Finance and the Cyprus Ministry of Finance are negotiating to exclude Cyprus from the list. Russia links the resolution of this issue with the conclusion of a protocol to the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation dated December 5, 1998 (04/16/2009 The Protocol was initialed in its final form.). Cyprus will also have to be more loyal to Russia in terms of providing information.

In December 2008, the Ukrainian government proposed to the Verkhovna Rada to denounce the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between the USSR and Cyprus, which is still in force in relation to Ukraine, but the Verkhovna Rada rejected this proposal. According to the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, in 2007, 4 billion 817 million 530 thousand hryvnia were transferred from Ukraine to Cyprus in the form of income. At the same time, the losses of the state budget of Ukraine from the application of the provisions of the Soviet-Cyprus agreement on the avoidance of double taxation amounted to 722 million 630 thousand hryvnia.

Compliance with OECD tax transparency and information sharing requirements

In August 2008, Law 72(I) amended the Law (Cap 4 of 1978) “On the Calculation and Collection of Taxes”, providing for the issuance of tax information in accordance with Art. 26 of the OECD Model Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation on Income and Capital.

The changes make it possible to circumvent, for tax purposes, legislative provisions prohibiting the disclosure of information, including provisions on bank secrecy and obligations on non-disclosure of information obtained in the course of professional activities, which include rules on the obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information received from the client and data protection. However, the right to legal professional privilege (client-client privilege) is maintained and, therefore, any information provided by the client during discussions to his lawyer cannot be disclosed to any third parties.

The key provisions of the changes made are:
The Cyprus tax authorities may not provide information where there is no mutual reciprocity (legislative provisions to implement the arrangement) between Cyprus and the other Contracting State regarding the information to be exchanged. Therefore, the requesting State is required to have similar provisions and/or administrative powers to carry out the exchange of information at the request of the Cyprus tax authorities.
The Cyprus tax authorities may exercise their powers to collect the requested information only after obtaining written consent from the Attorney General of Cyprus.
The Cyprus tax authorities may request information in relation to any persons, including companies and partnerships, which have been wound up and struck off the Register of Companies.
The Cyprus tax authorities may request any books, records or other documents, information or information in the possession, control, possession or control of any person. The requesting state is required to provide the Cyprus tax authorities with the following information:

— Information identifying the person being investigated;

– A description of the information requested, as well as the content and manner in which the requesting State wishes to receive information from the Cyprus tax authorities;

— Reasons and grounds for believing that the information requested is held by the Cyprus tax authorities, or may be in the possession or control of a person over whom Cyprus exercises jurisdiction;

— The name and address of any person who may have the information requested, to the extent that it may be available;

— A statement that the provision of information is subject to the law and administrative powers of the requesting State, and when the requested information is found and established in the jurisdiction of the requested State, the relevant authorities will be able to obtain the information in accordance with their laws and normal administrative powers;

— A statement that the requesting State has exhausted all measures available to it in its jurisdiction to obtain the information requested, excluding those measures the implementation of which would impose an undue burden.

Legislation and judicial system

The legal system of Cyprus in its modern form developed during the period of British colonial rule on the island (1878-1960). English law had a decisive influence on the formation of most branches of law; many legal institutions are no different from English ones. By the time of the British occupation of Cyprus in 1878, Ottoman law was in force on the island, which by this time was almost completely codified, with most codes borrowed from France. The new law, however, had not yet taken root by that time.

The Cyprus Courts of Justice Order of 1882 established that in cases where at least one of the defendants was not an Ottoman subject, English law applied, and in other cases, Ottoman law.

Ottoman law in Cyprus included 5 codes, which were gradually replaced by English colonial legislation. The Ottoman Criminal Code was replaced in 1928 by the Cypriot Penal Code, introduced by Order in Council; the Ottoman Commercial Code - the Partnership Law of 1928, the Bill of Exchange Law of 1928 and the Bankruptcy Law of 1930. The Ottoman Civil Code (Majalla), which was a codification of Sharia law, was also gradually repealed and replaced by a number of major acts. In 1930, The Contract Law, Cap. 149, was introduced, which was a very complete codification of English contract law. This act was based on the Indian Contract Act 1872 and the Zanzibar Contract Ordinance 1917. The Torts Act 1933 was a codification of English tort law (Cyprus is now the only country in the British Commonwealth where tort law is codified) . The remaining Majalla articles were replaced by other legislation. The Ottoman Land Code was replaced by the Real Estate (Holding, Registration and Valuation) Law of 1945. Finally, the Maritime Code is still in force to the extent that it does not contradict the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894.

In addition to the above codes, during the period of British rule, some other branches of law were codified (for example, criminal procedure, mining).

Following the independence of Cyprus, the provisions of the English legal system were introduced by the Courts of Justice Law in 1960. In the terminology of this Act, civil and criminal courts are required to comply with the provisions of English common law “so far as they are not inconsistent with the laws in force in Cyprus.” present, or amendments to them have not been made by the Constitution.” In cases where relations are not regulated by the laws of Cyprus, the island's courts must resort to the provisions of common law and equity.

Independent Cyprus is developing its own case law.

In family law and some issues of personal status, the dominant role was retained by religious law (respectively, church law in the Greek community and Muslim law in the Turkish community).

Cyprus does not have its own legal higher education institutions. Greek Cypriots receive their legal education mainly in Greece and the UK.

At the time of the creation of the independent Cypriot state, it was assumed that the judicial system would have to reflect the bicommunal nature of the country. The highest judicial bodies - the Supreme Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court (they were merged in January 1964) - were to be headed by neutral chairmen who would not belong to any of the national communities, but had a decisive vote and had to maintain balance between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots members of the above courts.

The 1960 Constitution provided that Turkish Cypriots were tried only by a Turkish judge, while Greek Cypriots were tried by a Greek judge. If the litigation involved Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, the case was heard by a mixed court. Communal offices of lawyers of Greeks and Turks were created, which had legislative and administrative powers regarding disputes on issues of education, religion, culture, sports, cooperatives and credit societies. After intercommunal clashes in 1963, mixed courts ceased to exist. The Supreme Court consists of 13 members appointed by the President of the Republic. It is the highest court of appeal in the country. The Supreme Court appoints judges of lower courts and decides all issues related to their professional promotion, disciplinary liability, dismissal, etc.

Civil cases and minor crimes carrying penalties of up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to £500 are heard in the District Courts. The Assize Courts have jurisdiction over more serious cases. The court of appeal against them is the Supreme Court of Cyprus. There are no courts in the Republic of Cyprus that deal with special categories of criminal cases (for example those related to state security). However, there are special courts for certain non-criminal cases: the Labor Court, the Rent Control Court and the Family Court. These courts exercise exclusive jurisdiction in relevant matters and their decisions can only be appealed as a matter of law to the Supreme Court. The Attorney General of the Republic of Cyprus (Prosecutor General) acts as the chief legal adviser to the President of the Republic and the Council of Ministers and at the same time is the Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions.

The Supreme Court of the separate state - the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - includes a chairman and 4 judges. It also performs the functions of the constitutional court, the highest administrative court and the court of cassation. Just as in the Republic of Cyprus, district courts composed of 1 judge hear cases punishable by imprisonment for a term of no more than 3 years, assize courts composed of 3 judges hear more serious cases.

In 1991, the position of Ombudsman (commissioner for human rights) was established in the Republic of Cyprus. The legal profession is organized in the form of partnerships operating on the basis of the Partnership Law (repeats the English Law of 1890 of the same name). Upon completion of their legal education, candidate attorneys must pass a bar exam administered by the Legal Board and undergo a one-year internship with an attorney with at least five years of experience. A lawyer with at least 3 years of experience has the right to appear in any court in the country.

Economy of Northern Cyprus

The problems of the economy of the so-called TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey and Nakhichevan, an Autonomous Entity within Azerbaijan) include a lack of investment, qualified labor and experienced managers, to which is added inflation, and dependence on the Turkish lira. Türkiye provides 55% of North Cyprus's exports and receives 48% of its imports. The European Court, in a ruling dated 5 July 1994, declared illegal the British practice of importing goods from Northern Cyprus that have the appropriate licenses and certificates from the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. According to the decree, EU members can only accept goods that have certificates from the Republic of Cyprus. This decision caused a decline in the TRNC's exports to the EU, from 66.7% of total exports in 1993 to 35% in 1996. Despite this, the EU remains the TRNC's second largest trading partner.

The first most important foreign trade partner for the TRNC is Turkey, which provides significant economic assistance. Since the Turkish lira is in circulation in the TRNC, until 2005, hyperinflation was a negative factor, which continued until the introduction of the new Turkish lira.

The authorities of the Turkish sector of Cyprus adhere to the principles of free foreign trade, and allow permanent residents to have bank accounts in foreign currency.

Also, the TRNC authorities are widely trying to sell real estate to foreigners, which is directly prohibited by the legislation of the Republic of Cyprus.

A well-known dispute is between Mr. Apostolidi and the Orams (citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), which arose in connection with the latter's acquisition of a plot of land in Northern Cyprus from a private seller. Mr. Apostolidi, whose family was forced to leave northern territory of the island, appealed to the District Court of Nicosia, which on 09.11.2004 supported his demands in the absence of defendants (19.04.2005 The court, already in their presence, refused to cancel the decision) to recognize his ownership of the land plot, and also obliged the spouses Orams to demolish the villa, destroy the swimming pool and pay various amounts, including legal costs.12/21/2006 The Supreme Court of the Republic of Cyprus rejected the appeal of the Orams spouses.

On 18.10.2005, Mr. Apostolidi applied in accordance with EU Regulation No. 44/2001 of 22.12.2000 “On jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters” to the competent UK court for recognition and enforcement of judgment decision of the Cypriot court dated 09.11.2004, as a result of which on 21.10.2005 the Master of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of England and Wales ruled in an order that this decision of the Cyprus court is subject to performance in England.

Spouses Orams in accordance with Art. 43 of the Rules successfully challenged the order before a High Court Judge, Mr Justice Jack. In turn, Mr. Apostolidi appealed for challenging such a decision to cancel the order in accordance with Article 44 of the Regulations to the Court of Appeal, which, by order of 06/19/2007 (received on 09/14/2007), prejudicially appealed to the EU Court of Justice.

Telecommunications

The dominant telecommunications company and internet service provider is the government-owned CYTA. Due to recent liberalization, several private companies have emerged in this sector.

Education and science

In total, there are six universities in Cyprus: 3 public and 3 private. Public ones include the University of Cyprus, the Open University of Cyprus and the Cyprus University of Technology. In addition to three private universities (European University of Cyprus, Frederick University of Cyprus and University of Nicosia), there are several institutes: the Cyprus Academy of Public Administration, the Graduate School of Hospitality Management, the Mediterranean Institute of Management and the Cyprus International Institute of Management.

National holidays

New Year - January 1
Epiphany - January 6
Green Monday (beginning of Lent, 50 days before Orthodox Easter)
Greek National Day - March 25
Cyprus National Day - April 1st
Good Friday - Variable Date
Bright Monday (Monday after Easter)
International Labor Day - May 1st
Kataklysmos (festival in honor of the Great Flood), Monday after Trinity
Dormition - August 15
Cyprus Independence Day - October 1
National holiday of Greece (OHI Day) - October 28
Christmas Eve - December 24
Christmas – December 25
Christmas time - December 26

Cypriot cuisine

The cuisine of Cyprus is based on Mediterranean dishes, primarily Greek and Turkish. These include meze (a set of numerous snacks and dishes united by one theme - meat or fish), common in Greece and Turkey, and kleftiko - baked goat or lamb meat. But traditional is the use of goat meat.

Kleftiko translates as “stolen meat,” as shepherds used to hide stolen meat in the ground and cook it by building a fire on top. Today this dish is prepared in a tightly closed oven. Thanks to the cooking method, the meat is tender and falls off the bones easily.

Also traditional are grilled dishes - souvla and souvlaki. Deep-fried keftedes and sheftalia cutlets (minced meat with herbs and grated potatoes).

Local seafood dishes include squid and octopus in red wine. Among sweets, jam made from local fruits, vegetables and nuts is common - from soft-shell walnuts, eggplants, figs, etc.

Cypriots also consider their dish to be churchkhella (in Greek “shuzhuko”) - nuts strung on ropes and covered with congealed grape syrup. Rose water is widely used in cooking.

Cypriot coffee "metrio" is similar to Turkish coffee - served directly with grounds and a glass of ice water.

Cinnamon is of great importance in Cypriot cuisine - it is added to almost all dishes: sweets, meat, cutlets, vegetable stews.

The wine Commandaria is famous, the production of which began during the times of the Crusaders. Local beers KEO and Leon are popular.

British culinary heritage is reflected in the traditional "English breakfast" of scrambled eggs, bacon and beans. Some bars serve beer in English pints.

Armed forces

The backbone of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Cyprus is the National Guard (Greek: Εθνική Φρουρά), founded in 1964, and including land (ground), sea (navy) and air (air) components. The total strength of the National Guard is about 14 thousand people.

The ground forces of the National Guard of the Republic of Cyprus include the 1st and 2nd infantry divisions, the 3rd and 4th separate infantry brigades, the 20th separate armored brigade, the separate Commando brigade, the field artillery command, units and units of central subordination.

The air component includes 449 and 450 helicopter squadrons, an aviation training squadron, a separate missile defense division, two air defense divisions, and an air defense missile system battery. (for more details see Cyprus Air Force)

The naval forces include a naval base (Zygi) and are armed with several patrol boats (for more details, see Cyprus Navy and Maritime Police).

In addition, on the basis of the “Treaty on Security Guarantees of the Republic of Cyprus” of 1960, Greece maintains its troops on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus (ELDIK - Greek Ελλινικών Δυνάμεων στην Κύπρο) numbering over two thousand people.

The main suppliers of weapons and military equipment are Greece, Russia and France. The United States and Great Britain imposed an arms embargo due to the unresolved Cyprus problem.

Personnel are recruited by conscription from among men over the age of 16 years, the duration of conscript service is 24 months (from January 1, 2009 - the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers was made in mid-December 2008, before that the conscription service period was 25 months), and is mandatory for persons whose father is a Greek Cypriot. For religious minorities (Armenians, Catholics, Christians - Maronites) conscription is not mandatory. Turks are not subject to conscription.

Guests of the island - men over 16 years of age - with a Cypriot father must obtain an exit visa from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Cyprus.

Embassies and consulates

Moscow, Povarskaya st., 9 (metro station Arbatskaya) Phone: (495) 744-2933, 744-2934
Embassy opening hours: Monday - Friday from 9.00 to 16.30
The consular section is open for receiving documents: Monday-Friday from 10.00 to 14.00

For issuing documents: Monday-Friday from 14.00 to 15.00
Passports, in order to obtain a visa on the day of their submission, must be submitted no later than 12.00 noon.
Days off: Saturday-Sunday
Representative office of the Ministry of Tourism of Cyprus in Moscow

St. Dmitry Ulyanov, house 16, bldg. 2, apt. 125. tel. 124-00-61, fax 124-33-97. Art. Akademicheskaya metro station. Opening hours: Monday - Friday from 11:00 to 16:30.

Attractions

The main attractions of the country: the tomb of Lazarus, the tomb of Hala Sultan, the archaeological Museum of Antiquities.
In the old part of Famaguasta there is a fortress of the 14th-15th centuries, where the prototype of Othello, the Venetian commander Christopher Moreau, lived in a tower.
Ruins of the ancient city of Salamis.
Near Kyrenia are the ruins of the Gothic Abbey of Bellapais, the Museum of Shipwrecks.
Stavrovouni Monastery, founded, according to legend, in 327 by Saint Helena.

Population

Since the division, the vast majority of Greek Cypriots live in the south and Turkish Cypriots live in the north. The total population is about 790 thousand people, of which 160 thousand are Turks. Also living in Cyprus are 17 thousand Englishmen, at least 40 thousand Russians (according to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation), 4 thousand Armenians. After the 1974 war, some 180,000 Greek Cypriots fled or were forcibly resettled to the south. About 42 thousand Turks moved to the north. And only in the city of Pyla, Larnaca district, under the UN-appointed administration, both groups of the population live. The number of the population under the control of the Republic of Cyprus, according to the end of 2011, reached 838,897 inhabitants, many of whom (21.4%) are foreign citizens.

Religion

The majority of the population of Cyprus - ethnic Greeks - professes Orthodox Christianity, ethnic Turks - Islam.

Story

The prehistoric period of Cyprus begins with the appearance of the first traces of man on the island, dating, according to the latest data, to the 10th millennium BC, and ends at the junction of the 2nd and 1st millennium BC, with the beginning of socio-political processes that led to the creation of the Cypriot kingdoms during the historical period. The history of Cyprus dates back to the Neolithic era, unlike Greece, where remains of human presence have been found since the Paleolithic period. Cyprus has always been an integral part of Hellenism. Hellenistic culture reached the island immediately after the Trojan War, when the Achaeans landed on the island and assimilated the autochthons, the so-called “etheo-Cypriots”. Since then, the island has been inhabited by Greeks.

The advantageous strategic position of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea contributed to the fact that during its history it changed hands more than once, remaining on the periphery of various empires. In 58 the province of Cyprus was formed. Having become part of Byzantium in 395, the theme of Cyprus was created in 965, in 1191 it was captured by the crusader troops of Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade, becoming the Kingdom of Cyprus. The island was already transferred to the French crusader Guy de Lusignan, who founded the Lusignan dynasty in the Kingdom of Cyprus.

The main attraction in the north of the island is Famagusta with the medieval Othello Tower, and the “ghost town” (Varosha quarter). Geographical proximity to a number of Mediterranean countries makes it possible to organize sea cruises for tourists to Egypt, Israel, the island of Rhodes or Jordan.

Cruise ships depart from the seaports of Larnaca and Limassol, and correspond to 3-5 star hotels. The cruise time is usually about two days. Upon arrival in Israel, citizens of the Russian Federation are subject to a visa-free regime.

When renting cars by Russian citizens, standard driving licenses are accepted; international driving licenses are not required. There may be an age limit depending on the car rental company.

Cars rented to tourists have red license plates that begin with the letter Z. It should be remembered that traffic in Cyprus is on the left. In this case, the “interference on the right” rule applies, as in right-hand traffic. All drivers must give way to pedestrians moving along a pedestrian crossing. In cities such as Nicosia, Larnaca, etc. you can get stuck in traffic jams; Free parking may also be difficult.

Many shops and banks on the island are closed on Wednesday and Saturday, and on weekdays - only 8:00-13:00 and 15:00-17:30 in winter, 16:00-19:00 in summer.

Photographing the border zone between the Greek and Turkish sectors, military personnel and military installations is prohibited.

Among the ethnic Greeks in Cyprus live Pontic Greek repatriates from the former USSR.

Currency

Politic system

Between the Greek and Turkish sectors is the UN buffer zone, which is de facto (but not de jure) also an exclave.

International status

Since May 1, 2004, Cyprus has been a member of the European Union. Citizens of the Russian Federation are not required to obtain a uniform EU visa. As of September 2012, Cyprus is not part of the Schengen area. Citizens of the Russian Federation receive the so-called provisions; you can fill out an application for it on the Embassy’s website; you can receive the provisions by email within 24 hours. A pro-visa gives the right to a single entry into the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Multiple entry requires a national Cyprus visa. The application procedure is similar to opening a Schengen visa.

The legal route of arrival to the island is through the airports of Paphos or Larnaca, or the seaports of Larnaca or Limassol. Illegal - through Turkey, and the ports of Northern Cyprus, sea or air.

Since January 1, 2008, Cyprus has been part of the eurozone, that is, the national currency - the Cypriot pound - has been replaced by the euro.

The Republic of Cyprus adheres to a policy of non-alignment and is not a member of NATO.

Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Moscow

Cyprus Map

Movement between the two parts of the island is free, provided you have a passport and a legal visa from the Republic of Cyprus. A visa for the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is issued upon entry. Insurance coverage may not apply to Turkish territory.

When returning from the northern part of the island, a customs inspection may be carried out. Since prices in Turkish territory are significantly lower, the import of goods from it is limited.

Diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union were established in August 1960. On April 7, 1992, the Republic of Cyprus recognized the Russian Federation as the legal successor of the USSR. The Russian embassy is located in Nicosia, the consulate is in Larnaca. The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Russia is located in Moscow, the consulate in St. Petersburg.

Persons with a visitor visa are prohibited from working. A work permit must be obtained before arriving in the Republic of Cyprus.

Referendum on island unification

Economy

Advantages: Tourism contributes 20% of GDP. Industry and services for neighboring eastern countries. Member of the EU.

Weak sides: demand for stricter control and action against capital flight and taxes. Limited liberalization. There is no foreign investment in Northern Cyprus.

The economy of Cyprus is strongly influenced by the division of the island into the Greek sector (Republic of Cyprus) and the Turkish sector (the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus).

The Greek sector's economy is thriving, but is highly exposed to external risks. Growth rates in the 1990s reflect the island's dependence on fluctuations in tourist numbers and changes in economic conditions in Western Europe. In January 2008 the island entered the Eurozone and its monetary policy will be dictated by the European Central Bank.

The Turkish sector represents one-fifth of the population and one-seventh of the GNP compared to the Greek part of the island. Due to the fact that it is only recognized by Turkey, Northern Cyprus has difficulties with international financing and foreign firms generally avoid investing there. Half of the workforce is employed in agriculture, government and military service. In circulation in the northern part of the island is the Turkish lira. Türkiye also provides direct and indirect assistance to tourism, education, industry, etc.

In both sectors there is a problem of water supply, and the construction of desalination plants is planned.

Past and present: Offshore sector and the lowest taxes in the EU

A tax resident of Cyprus is a company whose management is located in Cyprus, and whose effective management takes place in Cyprus (it is sufficient that a large number of directors, for example 2 out of 3, are tax residents of Cyprus, or better yet citizens, and also that all meetings of the board of directors and decisions on transactions, etc. were made in Cyprus). A tax resident individual is a person who has been in Cyprus for more than 183 days. It is important to note that the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement was signed between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cyprus in 1998, which was significantly amended by the Protocol of October 7, 2010.

Cyprus is one of the most popular holding jurisdictions and jurisdictions used in international tax planning. In addition to the lowest corporate tax rate in the EU, income from the sale of securities, interest and dividends received are exempt from tax. There is no withholding tax on interest, dividends and royalties paid abroad. Cyprus has a wide network of agreements on the avoidance of double taxation, including with Russia and other CIS countries.

In accordance with the above list, securities may include:

ordinary shares, founders' shares and preferred shares;
bonds, debentures and claims on bonds and debentures;
options on securities;
short options positions, futures, forwards and swaps on securities;
depository receipts for securities;
derivative securities linked to various indices;
repurchase agreements for securities;
shares in the capital of companies that do not have shares (shares in the capital of Russian LLCs);
shares in open or closed investment funds established, registered and operating in accordance with the provisions of the legislation of the country in which they are created.

The following types of companies can be created in Cyprus:

private limited company (may be exempt)
public limited company

Most often, Cypriot companies are used as holding companies, financial group companies, investment companies, international trading companies, leasing companies, companies in royalty schemes.

Since 2008, preferential taxation of dividends has been applied in Russia if their recipients are Russian organizations that have subsidiaries with their strategic participation, located both abroad and in Russia. The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation has approved a list of states to which these norms do not apply. Cyprus was one of these countries. The Cypriot authorities called this list “black” and considered it a serious problem. The Russian Ministry of Finance and the Cyprus Ministry of Finance held negotiations regarding the exclusion of Cyprus from the list. Russia linked the solution to this issue with the conclusion of the protocol to the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation dated December 5, 1998 (04/16/2009 The Protocol was initialed in its final form). Cyprus will also have to be more loyal to Russia in terms of providing information.

On October 31, 2012, Rossiyskaya Gazeta (No. 251) dated October 31, 2012 published Order No. 115n of the Russian Ministry of Finance dated August 21, 2012, registered on October 25, 2012 with the Russian Ministry of Justice, according to which the Republic of Cyprus is excluded from the list of offshore companies from January 1, 2013 , approved by Order of the Ministry of Finance of Russia dated November 13, 2007 No. 108n. News from the Russian Tax Portal about the exclusion of Cyprus from the Russian list of offshores

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated August 21, 2012 N 115n “On amendments to the List of states and territories that provide preferential tax treatment and (or) do not provide for the disclosure and provision of information when conducting financial transactions (offshore zones), approved by order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation dated November 13, 2007 N 108n", the country was excluded from the list of official offshore zones for Russian business. Changes to this list were made on October 25, 2012 /. The new norm will come into effect on January 1, 2012.

Compliance with OECD tax transparency and information sharing requirements

The key provisions of the changes made are:

The Cyprus tax authorities may not provide information where there is no mutual reciprocity (legislative provisions to implement the arrangement) between Cyprus and the other Contracting State regarding the information to be exchanged. Therefore, the requesting State is required to have similar provisions and/or administrative powers to carry out the exchange of information at the request of the Cyprus tax authorities.

The Cyprus tax authorities may exercise their powers to collect the requested information only after obtaining written consent from the Attorney General of Cyprus.

The Cyprus tax authorities may request information in relation to any persons, including companies and partnerships, which have been wound up and struck off the Register of Companies.

The Cyprus tax authorities may request any books, records or other documents, information or information in the possession, control, possession or control of any person. The requesting state is required to provide the Cyprus tax authorities with the following information:

Information identifying the person being investigated;

A description of the information requested, as well as the content and manner in which the requesting State wishes to obtain information from the Cyprus tax authorities;

Reasons and grounds for believing that the information requested is held by the Cyprus tax authorities, or may be in the possession or control of a person over whom Cyprus exercises jurisdiction;

The name and address of any person who may have the information requested, to the extent that it may be available;

A statement that the provision of information is subject to the law and administrative powers of the requesting State, and when the requested information is found and established in the jurisdiction of the requested State, the relevant authorities will be able to obtain the information in accordance with their laws and normal administrative powers;

A statement that the requesting State has exhausted all measures available to it in its jurisdiction to obtain the information requested, excluding those measures the implementation of which would impose an undue burden.

Legislation and judicial system

The Cyprus Courts of Justice Order of 1882 established that in cases where at least one of the defendants was not an Ottoman subject, English law applied, and in other cases - Ottoman law.

Ottoman law in Cyprus included 5 codes, which were gradually replaced by English colonial legislation. The Ottoman Criminal Code was replaced in 1928 by the Cypriot Penal Code, introduced by Order in Council; Ottoman Commercial Code - by the Partnership Law of 1928, the Bill of Exchange Law of 1928 and the Bankruptcy Law of 1930. The Ottoman Civil Code (Majalla), which was a codification of Sharia law, was also gradually repealed and replaced by a number of major acts. In 1930, The Contract Law, Cap. 149, was introduced, which was a very complete codification of English contract law. This act was based on the Indian Contract Act 1872 and the Zanzibar Contract Ordinance 1917. The Torts Act 1933 was a codification of English tort law (Cyprus is now the only country in the British Commonwealth where tort law is codified) . The remaining Majalla articles were replaced by other legislation. The Ottoman Land Code was replaced by the Real Estate (Holding, Registration and Valuation) Law of 1945. Finally, the Maritime Code is still in force to the extent that it does not contradict the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894.

In addition to the above codes, during the period of British rule, some other branches of law were codified (for example, criminal procedure, mining).

Independent Cyprus is developing its own case law.

In family law and some issues of personal status, the dominant role was retained by religious law (respectively, church law in the Greek community and Muslim law in the Turkish community).

Cyprus does not have its own legal higher education institutions. Greek Cypriots receive their legal education mainly in Greece and the UK.

Telecommunications

The dominant telecommunications company and Internet service provider is CYTA, owned by the state. Due to liberalization in 2003, several private companies appeared in this sector to create conditions for free competition.

One of the most successful private telecommunications operators in Cyprus is Primetel, which over the past 4 years has built its own and independent fiber optic network throughout the island. Also, PrimeTel, together with major global operator Reliance Globalcom, will soon launch a new high-speed submarine cable connecting Cyprus with Europe and other countries.

Education and science

National holidays

New Year - January 1
Epiphany - January 6
Green Monday (beginning of Lent, 50 days before Orthodox Easter)
Greek National Day - March 25
Cyprus National Day - April 1st
Good Friday - Variable Date
Bright Monday (Monday after Easter)
International Labor Day - May 1
Kataklysmos (festival in honor of the Great Flood), Monday after Trinity
Assumption - August 15
Cyprus Independence Day - October 1
National holiday of Greece (OHI Day) - October 28
Christmas Eve - December 24
Christmas - December 25
Christmas time - December 26

Cypriot cuisine

Also traditional are grilled dishes - souvla and souvlaki. Deep-fried keftedes and sheftalia cutlets (minced meat with herbs and bread crumb).

Local seafood dishes include squid and octopus in red wine. Among sweets, jam made from local fruits, vegetables and nuts is common - from soft-shell walnuts, eggplants, figs, etc.

Cypriots also consider their dish churchkhela (in Greek “shushuko”) - nuts strung on ropes and covered with a frozen syrup made from grape juice, flour and rose water. Rose water is widely used in cooking.

Cypriot coffee is similar to Turkish coffee - served with grounds and a glass of ice water.

Cinnamon is of great importance in Cypriot cuisine - it is added to almost all dishes: sweets, meat, cutlets, vegetable stews.

The wine Commandaria is famous, the production of which began during the times of the Crusaders. Local beers KEO and Leon are popular.

British culinary heritage is reflected in the traditional "English breakfast" of scrambled eggs, bacon and beans. Some bars serve beer in English pints.

Great damage is caused to populations of small migratory birds (up to 2 million individuals per year in the early 2010s), which are consumed as food, considered a delicacy ( see main article).

Armed forces

The backbone of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Cyprus is the National Guard (Greek: Εθνική Φρουρά), founded in 1964, and including land (ground), sea (navy) and air (air) components. The total number of the National Guard is about 14 thousand people.

The main suppliers of weapons and military equipment are Greece, Russia and France. The United States and Great Britain imposed an arms embargo due to the unresolved Cyprus problem.

Personnel are recruited by conscription from among men over the age of 16 years, the duration of conscription service is 24 months (from 01/01/2009 - the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers was made in mid-December 2008, before that the conscription service period was 25 months), and is mandatory for persons whose father is a Greek Cypriot. For religious minorities (Armenians, Catholics, Christians - Maronites) conscription is not mandatory. Turks are not subject to conscription.

Guests of the island - men over 16 years of age - with a Cypriot father must obtain an exit visa from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Cyprus.

Attractions

The main attractions of the country: the tomb of Lazarus, the tomb of Hala Sultan, the Archaeological Museum of Antiquities.
In the old part of Famagusta there is a fortress of the 14th-15th centuries, in the tower of which lived the prototype of Shakespeare's Othello, the Venetian commander Christopher Moreau.
Ruins of the ancient city of Salamis.
Near Kyrenia - the ruins of the Gothic Abbey of Bellapais, the Museum of Shipwrecks.
Stavrovouni Monastery, founded, according to legend, in 327 by Saint Helena.
Church of Agios Andronikos.
The ancient city of Kourion, near Limassol

Notes

Literature

Eduard Savulyak. Cyprus: 170 answers about taxes. - M., 2011. - 125 p.
Cyprus Rhapsody. Poems by poets of Cyprus. Translation from modern Greek. Ed. Ya. Smelyakova. - M., 1961. - 106 p.

in topics
	¹ Partially or completely in Asia, depending on the border drawn. ² Also in Asia.

Asian countries

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Have you been to Cyprus yet? We will help you make the right first impression of Cyprus in just 10 minutes! It's exciting and useful!

What kind of state is Cyprus?

Republic of Cyprus ( Greek Kipros, tour. Kibris, English Cyprus) is an island state in the Mediterranean Sea, a member of the European Union since 2004.

Political structure: The Republic of Cyprus is a presidential republic, has been a member of the European Union since May 1, 2004, and since January 1, 2008 has been part of the euro zone (the national currency, the Cypriot pound, was fixed at the rate of 0.585 pounds per euro).
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is an unrecognized republic by the world community (recognized only by Turkey).

Territorial structure: After the 1974 conflict, the once united state of Cyprus was divided into two parts: the southern, the Republic of Cyprus (57.6%), and the northern, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (36%). To prevent conflict, UN peacekeeping troops were sent to the island. To date, they occupy a buffer zone separating hostile territories (about 3.7% of the island’s territory). Another 2.7% of the territory was retained by Great Britain after Cyprus gained independence in 1960, and now there are two British military bases there.

Official languages: Greek (ROK) and Turkish (TRNC).

National currency: euro (ROK) and Turkish lira (TRNC).

Population: 839 thousand people (RoK, census from 2011) + 265 thousand people (TRNC, census from 2006).

Population

The population of the island is more than a million people, of which 839 thousand people live in the Republic of Cyprus: about 90% of the population of the republic are Greek Cypriots, the rest of the population are British, Russians and Armenians.

There are 265 thousand people in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, of which 1/3 are ethnic Turkish Cypriots, and 2/3 are immigrants from mainland Turkey.

Religion

The Republic of Cyprus is an Orthodox state. The Cypriot Orthodox Church is an autocephalous apostolic church. Religious traditions are very strong here, church holidays are public holidays, the first president of the Republic of Cyprus after the declaration of its independence was Archbishop Makarius III. There are more than 700 temples and monasteries in Cyprus. The most famous is the Kykkos Monastery in the Troodos Mountains. Also interesting are the small ancient churches of Troodos with wall frescoes (listed as a UNESCO world cultural heritage).

The majority of the population of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus preaches Islam.

Language

Official language of the Republic of Cyprus: Greek. As a legacy of British colonization, Cyprus inherited the ubiquitous English language, and thanks to the popularity of the resort among Russian-speaking tourists, you will be understood in Russian.

The official language of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is Turkish; in tourist areas they will speak to you in English and German.

Climate of Cyprus

The island's climate, combined with clean air and gentle warm sea, is ideal for relaxation at any time of the year. It is not for nothing that Cyprus ranks 31st in the world in terms of life expectancy.

The climate on the island is subtropical Mediterranean, characterized by hot, dry summers (temperatures up to +45°, humidity 40-60%) and warm winters (temperature +12°... +20°, humidity 60 - 80%). In the Troodos Mountains, the temperature is much lower than on the coast, which allows local residents to take a break from the heat in the summer, and even go skiing and snowboarding in the winter! The wettest months are December and January; precipitation in the form of rain is possible on the coast.

The summer months are the best time for a beach holiday on the coast. Don't forget your sunscreen and your holiday will be perfect.

In almost any hotel, cafe or restaurant in the Republic of Cyprus, visitors are provided with free Wi-Fi; the password can be obtained from the staff. A free network has appeared on many beaches in Cyprus.
But some hotels have begun to charge for Wi-Fi in their rooms (you can connect to the network for free only at the reception desk). IN Over the past few years, the practice has spread in many low- and mid-budget hotels to provide paid access to Wi-fi (about 15-20 euros per day). Please check this point when booking to correctly calculate the cost of your vacation.

How much is Cyprus actually worth?

There is an opinion that Cyprus is an expensive resort. However, this is not at all true - there are plenty of opportunities to organize a holiday for every taste and budget!

The most expensive months for a holiday in Cyprus are July and August; prices traditionally increase during the May and New Year holidays.
But during the most comfortable time for a vacation - the second half of September, October, early November - you can find excellent discounts on package tours and hotel accommodations. The most expensive hotels are in Limassol and Ayia Napa, followed by Paphos and Protaras. The most budget holiday on the coast is in Larnaca.

The cost of a week's holiday in Cyprus during the season will range from 650 to 1000 euros for two (and higher, depending on the level of the hotel). In the off-season you can go to the sea for a week for 500 euros for two. Package tours include flights and hotel accommodation. Cheap tours, as a rule, do not include meals - please specify meals and airport transfers when booking.

If you are planning an independent holiday, you must provide for the following expenses:

Flight: depending on the season and airline, the cost of the flight will be from 200 to 600 euros per person round trip. Keep an eye out for special offers from airlines - with promotions from airlines you can fly to Cyprus for only 100 euros per person.

Accommodation: choose the conditions and price to suit your taste: a stay in an apart-hotel will cost you 30-50 euros for two (usually meals are not included), 4* hotels will cost from 100-120 euros for two per day (usually breakfast is included at default). Hotels on the first line, as a rule, offer their clients free sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach. But if you are vacationing in another hotel or apartment, prepare to pay from 6 to 7.5 euros per day for an umbrella and 2 sun loungers.

Nutrition: breakfast (English or continental) will cost you 4-6 euros per person; dinner in a restaurant - from 15-20 euros per person. An excellent option for an inexpensive lunch - traditional souvlaki (kebabs) in pita bread with vegetables will cost you 8-10 euros. If you are planning to stay in an apart-hotel and cook your own food (the best option for a holiday with small children), count from 5-10 euros per person per day (depending on your menu).

Trips: In Cyprus, you definitely need to travel, this is the only way you will get the most complete pleasure from your vacation! Excursion around the island will cost from 40-45 euros per person (depending on the route and size of the group), the cost of an individual excursion for a group of up to 4 people - from 120 euros (4.5 - 5 hours) to 180 euros (8-9 hours) and 240 euros (10-12 hours), lunch is paid separately. You can rent a car(20-40 euros per day depending on the class of car and season, at least 3 days; gasoline in Cyprus costs 1.25 euros per liter 95). The island has developed bus service— the fare is 1.5 euros on a city route and from 7 euros on an intercity route (buses run quite rarely, keep an eye on the schedule).

Entertainment: visiting the water park will cost 29-38 euros per adult and 16-25 euros per child; the cost for boat trips varies from 10-12 euros (1-1.5 hour walk) to 50 euros (5 hour trip with lunch and drinks), individual yacht rental from 200 euros for two (it is advisable to check in advance); the cost of entrance tickets to state museums is from 2.5 to 4.5 euros per adult; sea attractions - from 7 euros (banana ride) to 40 euros (parachute flight).

Taxi (transfer): from Larnaca airport: to Larnaca hotel from 20 euros; to Ayia Napa from 40 euros; to Protaras and Limassol from 50 euros; to Paphos from 90 euros.

You can read more about how much food costs in stores and restaurant prices in the article Prices in Cyprus.

Transport in Cyprus

FLIGHTS

There are two airports in the Republic of Cyprus: in Larnaca (Hermes Larnaca International Airport LCA ) And in Paphos (Paphos International Airport PFO), which receive daily regular flights from Russia and Ukraine. You can get from Moscow to Cyprus by direct flights of Aeroflot (from Sheremetyevo SVO airport) and S7 (Domodedovo DME).

In addition, regular flights depart from Cyprus to Belarus, England, Germany, France, Greece, Israel, Syria, Libya, and Egypt.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus also has an airport near Nicosia (Ercan Uluslararasi Havalimani ECN). Since this airport is located on the territory of an unrecognized state, it cannot accept international flights; planes fly here only from Turkey. Tourists arriving at the airport of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus cannot enter the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.

Larnaca Airport offers direct transfers to Limassol and Nicosia. More information about the schedule of transfers to Limassol and Nicosia, respectively, can be found on the websites www.cyprusbybus.com and www.kapnosairportshuttle.com.

TAXI

A taxi will cost more than a bus, but it will take the passenger to the right place and at a convenient time. In the Republic of Cyprus, both taxi drivers and their cars undergo a fairly strict certification procedure, so you can use these services without fear. It is not customary for passing cars to “vote” here.

BUSES

Bus services connect the main cities of the Republic of Cyprus, in addition there are both urban and rural routes. This is an inexpensive and comfortable means of transportation (all buses are equipped with air conditioning), and although they run quite rarely (1 flight every 1-2 hours), they are on schedule (the current schedule can be obtained at the nearest bus station or on the website http://www.cyprusbybus. com/). Please note: the last flights depart quite early, and flights may be canceled on weekends and holidays! Payment is made in the bus upon boarding.

Airport transfers are usually included in the package tour price and are often provided by the hotel when booking independently (check when booking).
If you are staying in the cities of Paphos and Larnaca, you can use regular buses (cost 1.5 euros per adult, 0.75 euros for a child over 6 years old).

FERRY SERVICE

Ferries and cruise ships depart from the Republic of Cyprus from the port of Limassol and travel to the ports of Greece (Rhodes, Crete and mainland Piraeus), Bulgaria (Varna), Egypt (Port Said), Israel (Haifa), Syria (Latakia) and Italy (Ancocna). Also, liners cruising the Mediterranean Sea make a stop in Limassol.

In the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, two ports are connected by ferry to Turkey: the port of Kyrenia and the port of Famagusta. Please note that when arriving from Turkey to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, you cannot enter the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.

Entertainment

Cyprus offers all types of water activities. Large water parks (the largest in Europe) have become very popular among tourists - WaterWorld In Ayia Napa and Fassouri Watermania in Limassol. There are smaller water parks in Paphos and Protaras that are perfect for visiting with children. Expect a full day at the water park - there are attractions for all family members and, believe me, you will want to come back!

The beaches offer a variety of water attractions - here you can ride a banana boat and water ski, rent a scooter or catamaran, and also take an unforgettable trip in a hot air balloon! In the sea harbors of resort towns you will be offered various programs of boat trips - fishing, a full-fledged trip with stops for swimming, watching the sunset.

The largest amusement park on the island - Paliasto Park- located in Ayia Napa. Every resort town in Cyprus has small amusement parks and slot machines. And in Protaras you can admire the unique Show of Dancing Fountains - Magic Dancing Waters- with a laser show and a real volcanic eruption!

Cuisine and traditions

The cuisine of Cyprus is quite simple - fresh vegetables and fruits, fresh meat and fish, the freshest bread and the inevitable olives) The national cuisine is Mediterranean.

Please note that in the mountainous regions meat cuisine is traditional, and in the coastal regions it is fish cuisine.
Cyprus has fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables all year round.

National regulations guarantee no additives or chemicals, so you can forget about the nitrate horror stories and enjoy your fresh fruit!

About half of the land in Cyprus is occupied by agriculture - there are fresh vegetables and fruits here all year round! Main crops: olives, grapes, citrus fruits, melons, wheat, potatoes, almonds, walnuts, pomegranates, beans, cherries, apricots and peaches.

The wines of Cyprus are known far beyond the island - many wineries produce red and white wines, the famous knightly wine Commandaria, as well as strong drinks - brandy and zivania.

Dairy products, in particular Cypriot cheeses, will delight the most sophisticated gourmet.

Cypriot cuisine is one of the pillars of Mediterranean cuisine, and one of the most interesting attractions of the island!

Emergency numbers:

Single number 112
Fire Department 199 Sea air has a very beneficial effect on our body, because it’s not for nothing that the sea is considered the best healer! The beach season lasts from May to early November, but even in winter the water temperature does not drop below +17..+18 degrees! The beaches of Cyprus are considered one of the best in Europe; in 2018, 63 Cypriot beaches were awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness and amenities (the unrecognized republic of Northern Cyprus does not participate in the rating, otherwise there would be much more awards!).
There is no heavy industry in Cyprus, therefore there are no harmful particles and compounds that poison us in large cities
We can talk endlessly about the benefits of mountain air; when vacationing in Cyprus, be sure to go to the Troodos Mountains. The highest point of the island is Mount Olympus (1951 m).
Convenience for tourists— Cyprus is simply created for relaxation! Moreover, for completely different holidays - each tourist can choose his own format.
All cities and villages of Cyprus are equipped with the necessary infrastructure - shops and pharmacies, restaurants and cafes, banks.
One of the legacies of British colonization is excellent roads connecting all settlements. The traffic is on the left, but you get used to it quickly. All signs are maximally adapted for the convenience of foreign tourists.
An important aspect of a holiday in Cyprus is the absence of language barriers. Even if you don’t speak English (about 90% of Cypriots speak English), you will not be lost - many Cypriots speak Russian, in addition, many Russian-speaking citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic countries live and work in Cyprus. Coupled with traditional hospitality, this greatly simplifies your vacation and completely eliminates communication problems!

Simplified visa regime— Cyprus is a member of the Schengen Agreement (you can come to Cyprus with an open Schengen visa issued by a third country), but issues a national visa. For citizens of Russia and Ukraine, the visa is free, you can get it using a simplified scheme - without leaving your home, in one day!

Safety— Cyprus is one of the safest countries in the world.

Cuisine of Cyprus- the cuisine of Cyprus is quite simple - fresh vegetables and fruits, fresh meat and fish, the freshest bread and the inevitable olives) The national cuisine is Mediterranean. Please note that in the mountainous regions meat cuisine is traditional, and in the coastal regions it is fish cuisine.
Cyprus has fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables all year round. National regulations guarantee no additives or chemicals, so you can forget about the nitrate horror stories and enjoy your fresh fruit!
I would also like to say something about Cypriot wine, because winemaking has existed on the island for more than 5 thousand years!

Travel and attractions— Cyprus provides a lot of opportunities for curious tourists: exciting individual excursions on a variety of topics, simplicity and accessibility of independent road trips around the island. In addition, all cities of Cyprus are connected by regular bus routes - you can travel around Cyprus on your own without even renting a car!
The variety of landscapes and attractions makes Cyprus very attractive to tourists. The main tourism destinations in Cyprus:
- Troodos mountains. In addition to traditional villages, small waterfalls and stunning views, there are many naturalistic walking routes of low difficulty;
- pilgrimage routes. The Orthodox churches of Cyprus attract pilgrims from all over the world. The ancient churches of Troodos deserve special mention; thanks to the preserved Byzantine frescoes, they are included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage.
— archaeological parks, Neolithic and antiquity. Cyprus has preserved unique ancient cities and settlements, and the ancient mosaics of Paphos are also noted by UNESCO.
- Northern Cyprus. Unique castles and fortresses of the Middle Ages, combined with a unique oriental flavor, attract a consistently high number of tourists.

What is Cyprus famous for?

The main attraction of Cyprus is clean and equipped beaches Mediterranean Sea, some of the best in Europe. In 2018, 62 beaches and one promenade in Cyprus were awarded the international Blue Flag award.

Troodos Mountains- the mountain system of Cyprus with the highest point of 1952 meters (Mount Olmpus). In winter, snow falls in the mountains and there is one ski resort. The Troodos Mountains are a national nature park. Local forests are interesting for a large number of endemic plants, the most famous are the Cyprus cyclamen, golden oak, strawberry tree and Cypriot cedar. The most famous endemic - the inhabitant of Troodos - mouflon, is included in the international Red Book.

Heritage of ancient civilizations. Archaeologists believe that the first people settled in Cyprus 10 thousand years ago - the most interesting archaeological parks of the Neolithic period (Khirokitia and Tenta, included in the UNESCO world cultural heritage list) and the ancient period (Kourion, Salamis, Paphos archaeological park, Kition) are open to visitors , Amathus, Tamassos, Soli). In the cities of Cyprus, archaeological museums are open all year round, presenting archaeological finds and ancient artifacts.

Homeland of the goddess Aphrodite. It is believed that it was here, in Petra Tou Romiou Bay (between Limassol and Paphos), that the goddess of love emerged from the sea foam to then settle in Paphos. The cult of Aphrodite reigned on the island; the largest temples in Europe were built here. Currently, the ruins of temples can be seen in archaeological parks - the ancient city-states of Cyprus.

Orthodox heritage and monuments from the period of the birth and formation of Christianity. The Republic of Cyprus is an Orthodox state. The Cypriot Orthodox Church is an autocephalous apostolic church. Religious traditions are very strong here, church holidays are public holidays, the first president of the Republic of Cyprus after the declaration of its independence was Archbishop Makarius III. There are more than 700 temples and monasteries in Cyprus. The most famous is the Kykkos Monastery in the Troodos Mountains. Also interesting are the small ancient churches of Troodos with wall frescoes (listed as a UNESCO world cultural heritage).

Products, winemaking, agritourism. About half of the land in Cyprus is occupied by agriculture - there are fresh vegetables and fruits here all year round! Main crops: olives, grapes, citrus fruits, melons, wheat, potatoes, almonds, walnuts, pomegranates, beans, cherries, apricots and peaches. The wines of Cyprus are known far beyond the island - many wineries produce red and white wines, the famous knightly wine Commandaria, as well as strong drinks - brandy and zivania. Dairy products, in particular Cypriot cheeses, will delight the most sophisticated gourmet. Cypriot cuisine is one of the pillars of Mediterranean cuisine, and one of the most interesting attractions of the island!

Cyprus is a favorite holiday destination not only for Russians; tourists from all over the world come here all year round, attracted by fabulous legends, luxurious beaches and comfortable hotels on the island. But Cyprus is not only a resort, it is a state with its own economy, population and legislation, which is also located in an offshore zone. What do we really know about this picturesque piece of land in the middle of the azure Mediterranean Sea, and what should we know when choosing it as a place for our next vacation - or setting up a business?

Where is Cyprus

The island is the third largest in the Mediterranean Sea, its area is 9300 sq.m. Located east of Greece and west of Israel, south of Turkey and north of Egypt.

State structure

The state bears the same name as the island. Some consider it part of Greece or Turkey, this is not true. Cyprus is a separate independent country. The island was once a colony of Great Britain, which left its traces. English is widely used here, legislation is based on British, and the streets drive on the left.

Executive power and state policy are exercised by the President and the Council of Ministers, which is also appointed by the President. Legislative power is exercised by a unicameral parliament. According to the Constitution, the president of the country is always chosen from the Greeks, and the vice-president from the Turks.

How Cyprus is divided

Geographically, Cyprus is divided into 6 districts, the capital of the country is Nicosia. Official state languages: Greek and Turkish.

In 1974, Turkey illegally invaded the island and occupied its northern part, settling 160 thousand citizens of Turkish citizenship. Today, the state remains divided into two parts; negotiations on reunification have not yet led to a positive result.

Between the parts of the island there is a Green Line, controlled by the UN. There are also two British military bases here: Akrotiri and Dhekelia.

Northern and Southern Cyprus

The northern part of the island is governed by Turkey and is called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It is recognized only by the state of Turkey, others call it “occupied Cyprus.” The southern part is called the Republic of Cyprus. The state is part of the European Union, but the TRNC denies this.

Culture

The culture of this island is, without exaggeration, unique. Since prehistoric times, representatives of various nations have come here and inevitably left their mark. It is not for nothing that the island is compared to an open-air museum - there is something to admire even in small villages. The Greek part of the island's population professes Orthodoxy, the Turkish part professes Islam.

Modern Cypriots are famous for their welcoming and friendly disposition. They are smiling, love to celebrate, hospitality is in their blood - perhaps this is due to the very mild, warm climate, because out of 365 days a year, on average 340 here are dry and sunny.

Economy

Economically, Cyprus is an independent state, although it has close ties with Greece. However, the crisis did not affect the situation in the country in any way; the country controls its banks independently.

The state receives its main income from tourism. Cyprus also trades in local delicacies - wines, vegetables and fruits, spices and cheeses. Recently, purchasing real estate in Cyprus has become especially popular, which also accounts for a significant share of state income. Copper, chromium and iron ores are mined here, fishing, animal husbandry and sericulture are carried out, grains, melons and olive trees are grown. Partners: European countries, USA, Japan, United Arab Emirates.

There is a difference in the economic development of Northern and Southern Cyprus. There are more than 30 banks operating in the republic and about 1,000 offshore companies are registered. At the moment, the Republic of Cyprus surpasses the northern part in economic level several times.

Population

The island has an officially registered population of 770 thousand. Local natives are divided into Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, there is a small proportion of national minorities - Armenians, Myriots, etc.

More than 2 million tourists visit the island every year, mainly from Europe and Russia.

The capital of Southern and Northern Cyprus is Nicosia. The next largest city is Limassol, followed by Larnaca, Famagusta, Paphos, Kyrenia. The economic and industrial center of the state is Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca, Famagusta - large port and resort cities. Kyrenia is a picturesque town, replete with luxurious villas and comfortable bungalows, a favorite holiday destination for Europeans.

Northern - under Turkish control, called the Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus. The capital, Nicosia, is simultaneously the capital of two states.

Republic of Cyprus– an independent state with a presidential system of government. The Constitution was adopted in 1960. The President of the Republic is the head of state and executive power, elected for a five-year term. The Council of Ministers, which implements state policy, is appointed by the president. Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament. According to the constitution, the president must be Greek, the vice-president must be Turkish; the vice president participates in the formation of the Council of Ministers. However, since 1963, the Turkish community has refused to participate in the activities of parliament and government.

The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the European Parliament, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the European Security Council and many other international organizations.

Story

Civilization arose in Cyprus back in the 3rd millennium BC. In the 2nd millennium BC. Cyprus becomes the center of Cretan-Mycenaean culture.

The advantageous location of Cyprus has led to the fact that throughout history not only neighboring states have fought for its ownership. Cyprus was owned by the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and Romans. Cyprus was part of Byzantium in the fourth century BC, Venice in the 12th century, and part of the Ottoman Empire for three centuries, starting in 1571. In 1878, Cyprus was given to Great Britain.

Cyprus gained independence only in 1959 as a result of negotiations between Turkey, Great Britain and Greece. In 1960, Cyprus becomes an independent republic and a constitution is adopted. Continuous armed clashes between the Greek and Turkish populations of Cyprus led to the fact that in 1964 the UN sent troops to Cyprus. In 1974, a coup took place, as a result of which the Greek military regime collapsed, the Turks occupied almost half of the country's territory. In 1975, the Turkish Federal State was declared in the north of Cyprus, and in 1983, the independent Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey and Azerbaijan, was proclaimed.

Negotiations on unifying the island are ongoing, but to no avail. In 2004, the island held a referendum in which the majority of Greek Cypriots voted against unification, while the majority of Turkish Cypriots supported the unification plan.

Culture

The country is split into Greek and Turkish ethnic communities. Greek Cypriots, who make up 77% of the island's total population, profess Orthodoxy. Christianity was brought here by the Greeks about two thousand years ago. According to historians, the first Christian state was created in Cyprus.

The population of Northern Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots, professes Islam. Numerous mosques located in the towns and villages of the northern part of the island were partially converted from Orthodox churches.

Cypriots are an educated people, many of them today are able to read the inscriptions carved centuries ago on the walls of temples. Cypriots are proud of their cultural heritage, which has been accumulated over many millennia. While in Cyprus, it is impossible to forget about the history of this island, which can be called an open-air museum. Here you can find traces of every era - Greek temples, Roman mosaics, frescoes from the 15th century. All this undoubtedly influences the work of contemporary artists. In many villages there are folk crafts - pottery, jewelry making, basket weaving, tapestry making and Lefkara lace weaving.

Economy

30 years of separate existence of southern and northern Cyprus have led to a significant difference in the economic development of the two states.

Despite the fact that during the division 200 thousand Greeks lost their lands in the north of the island, the economy Republic of Cyprus, based on the free enterprise system, was successfully restored and even exceeded the level reached before division. Successful economic development has contributed to the transformation of the Republic of Cyprus into an international center for banking and business. Currently, there are about 30 foreign banks and over a thousand offshore companies registered here in Cyprus.

On the territory of Cyprus, the mining of copper, chrome and iron ores has been established. Livestock farming and sericulture are developed. Fishing and sponge fishing has been established. There are enterprises in the clothing, food, and mining industries. Agricultural products: wheat, barley, potatoes, melons, almonds, tobacco, walnuts, olive trees.

Export: from the Greek zone - goods of the clothing and pharmaceutical industries, potatoes; from the Turkish zone - industrial goods, citrus fruits. Imports: to the Greek zone - mineral fuels, cars, metals, textiles, food; to the Turkish zone - heavy engineering products, transport equipment, basic industrial goods, farm animals, food.

Main trading partners: Greek zone - Great Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Arab countries, USA; Turkish zone - Türkiye, Great Britain, EEC countries.

The island became an important center for maritime shipping. Despite the small size of the Republic of Cyprus, it has the third largest fleet in the world.

An important source of income is foreign tourism. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus has relied on organizing tourism. In 1969, a tourism organization (Cyprus Tourism Organization) was created, which provides assistance to tourism companies and is responsible for marketing, planning and regulation of the tourism services market.

Currency: euro in the Greek part of Cyprus, Turkish lira in the Turkish part.

Population

Population according to 2003 data. – more than 770 thousand people. Ethnic composition: Greek Cypriots 77%, Turkish Cypriots 18%, national minorities (Armenians, Maronites, etc.) 5%. The number of tourists is more than 2 million annually. Mostly British, Germans, Russians and Scandinavians.

Official language Republic of Cyprus is Greek (Cypriot dialect). English is widely spoken and is considered the second official language and is widely used as a means of communication. Turkish population Northern Cyprus speaks his native language.

Cities

Cyprus is divided into 6 districts. The capital of the state is Nicosia (180 thousand people) (divided between Greeks and Turks). Large cities: Limassol (130 thousand people), Larnaca (80 thousand people), Famagusta (40 thousand people). Main ports: Larnaca, Paphos and Limassol (for the Greeks); Famagusta and Kyrenia (among the Turks).

Nicosia- the capital of Cyprus, located in the middle of the island. It belongs to two states - the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey. The Government, the headquarters of consulates and embassies are located here. Nicosia has an international airport, which is closed due to the Greek-Turkish conflict. Food and light industry enterprises. Pottery crafts and tourism are developed. Nicosia is a sister city of Odessa.

Limassol is located in the south of the island. It is the main industrial and maritime area of Cyprus, as well as the second largest city in the country. Limassol is not only the main port, but also the leading center of tourism, international trade, industry and winemaking in Cyprus.

Larnaca- the third largest city in Cyprus, located near the southeastern coast. It is the rapidly developing resort and economic center of Cyprus. Larnaca also has an international airport.

Famagusta- one of the richest cities in the world. It is a port city on the southeast coast of the island Cyprus, in Famagusta Bay. Famagusta is an important trading center. There are enterprises in the food and textile industries.

Pathos is the ancient capital of Cyprus during Roman rule. Paphos can be called the capital of the western region of Cyprus. Most of the population is employed in various branches of tourism, because... the city does not have a developed industry.

Kyrenia- one of the best coastal resorts in Cyprus, located on the northern coast of the island. Wealthy people have long appreciated the beauty and tranquility of Kyrenia. For this reason, the city has many luxury villas and bungalows.

Where is Cyprus located in which country? Where to stay

Population

Religion

Story

Currency

Politic system

International status

Referendum on island unification

Economy

Past and present: Offshore sector and the lowest taxes in the EU

Compliance with OECD tax transparency and information sharing requirements

Legislation and judicial system

Telecommunications

Education and science

National holidays

Cypriot cuisine

Armed forces

Attractions

see also

Notes

Links

Literature

What kind of state is Cyprus?

Population

Religion

Language

Climate of Cyprus

How much is Cyprus actually worth?

Transport in Cyprus

FLIGHTS

TAXI

BUSES

FERRY SERVICE

Entertainment

Cuisine and traditions

What is Cyprus famous for?

Story

Culture

Economy

Population

Cities