Cyprus

Cyprus

Cyprus is an island country in the northeast corner of the Mediterranean Sea. It lies about 64 kilometers south of Turkey and 100 kilometers west of Syria. Geographically, Cyprus is part of Asia. But its people live much like southern Europeans and have a relatively high standard of living. Cyprus is a scenic country noted for its hilltop castles, old churches, beaches, and rugged mountains.

A Short Background

Independence from the UK was approved in 1960 with constitutional guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled almost 40% of the island.

In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", but it is recognized only by Turkey. UN-led talks on the status of Cyprus resumed in December 1999 to prepare the ground for meaningful negotiations leading to a comprehensive settlement.

Some facts

Location: population:	Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey 800 000
Area:	total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area)
Currency:	Greek Cypriot area: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish lira (TRL)
Nationality:	noun: Cypriot(s)
Ethnic groups:	Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area)
Religions:	Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%
Languages:	Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy:	total population: 94%

Action 5.1 activity 9 “Support for quality and innovation of the Program Youth.” Project no: 5.1/R1/2003/06 Made by Hienet working Teams in cooperation with T.E.S.