October
1991 was for 12 seats
Communists:
about 12,000
Other political or pressure groups:
United Democratic Youth Organization (EDON; Communist controlled); Union of
Cyprus Farmers (EKA; Communist controlled); Cyprus Farmers Union (PEK;
pro-West); Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation (PEO; Communist controlled) ;
Confederation of Cypriot Workers (SEK; pro-West); Federation of Turkish
Cypriot Labor Unions (Turk-Sen); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions
(Dev-Is)
Member of:
C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM,
OAS (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO; note - the Turkish-Cypriot administered area of Cyprus has observer
status in the OIC
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Michael E. SHERIFIS; Chancery at 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC
20008; telephone (202) 462-5772
US:
Ambassador Robert E. LAMB; Embassy at the corner of Therissos Street and
Dositheos Street, Nicosia (mailing address is APO AE 09836); telephone [357]
(2) 465151; FAX [357] (2) 459-571
Flag:
white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is
derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive
branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for
peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities; note -
the Turkish cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom
with a red crescent and red star on a white field
:Cyprus Economy
Overview:
The Greek Cypriot economy is small, diversified, and prosperous. Industry
contributes 24% to GDP and employs 35% of the labor force, while the service
sector contributes 44% to GDP and employs 45% of the labor force. Rapid
growth in exports of agricultural and manufactured products and in tourism
have played important roles in the average 6.4% rise in GDP between 1985 and
1990. In mid-1991, the World Bank "graduated" Cyprus off its list of
developing countries. In contrast to the bright picture in the south, the
Turkish Cypriot economy has less than half the per capita GDP and suffered a
series of reverses in 1991. Crippled by the effects of the Gulf war, the
collapse of the fruit-to-electronics conglomerate, Polly Peck, Ltd., and a
drought, the Turkish area in late 1991 asked for a multibillion-dollar grant
from Turkey to help ease the burden of the economic crisis. Turkey normally
underwrites a substantial portion of the TRNC economy.
GDP:
purchasing power equivalent - Greek area: $5.5 billion, per capita $9,600;
real growth rate 6.0%; Turkish area: $600 million, per capita $4,000; real
growth rate 5.9% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Greek area: 4.5%; Turkish area: 69.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
Greek area: 1.8%; Turkish area: 1.2% (1990)
Budget:
revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $2.0 billion, including capital
expenditures of $250 million (1991)
Exports:
$847 million (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes
partners:
UK 23%, Greece 10%, Lebanon 10%, Germany 5%
Imports:
$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery
partners:
UK 13%, Japan 12%, Italy 10%, Germany 9.1%
External debt:
$2.8 billion (1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate 5.6% (1990); accounts for 24% of GDP
Electricity:
620,000 kW capacity; 1,770 million kWh produced, 2,530 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products
Agriculture:
accounts for 7% of GDP and employs 14% of labor force in the south; major
crops - potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, and citrus fruits;
vegetables and fruit provide 25% of export revenues
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $292 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $250 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $62 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $24
million
Currency:
Cypriot pound (plural - pounds) and in Turkish area, Turkish lira (plural -
liras); 1 Cypriot pound (#C) = 100 cents and 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus
:Cyprus Economy
Exchange rates:
Cypriot pounds (#C) per US$1 - 0.4683 (March 1992), 0.4615 (1991), 0.4572
(1990), 0.4933 (1989), 0.4663 (1988), 0.4807 (1987); in Turkish area,
Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 6,098.4 (March 1992), 4,173.9 (1991), 2,608.6
(1990), 2,121.7 (1989), 1,422.3 (1988), 857.2 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Cyprus Communications
Highways:
10,780 km total; 5,170 km paved; 5,610 km gravel, crushed stone, and earth
Ports:
Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos
Merchant marine:
1,228 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,053,213 GRT/35,647,964 DWT;
includes 8 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 440 cargo, 83
refrigerated cargo, 22 roll-on/roll-off, 52 container, 5 multifunction large
load carrier, 107 petroleum tanker, 3 specialized tanker, 3 liquefied gas,
20 chemical tanker, 32 combination ore/oil, 394 bulk, 3 vehicle carrier, 49
combination bulk, 2 railcar carrier, 2 passenger, 1 passenger cargo; note -
a flag of convenience registry; Cuba owns at least 30 of these ships,
republics of the former USSR