About Cyprus GEOGRAPHY OF CYPRUS
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Its 9,251 square kilometres (3,572 square miles) encompass citrus and olive groves, pine forested mountains, and some of Europe's cleanest beaches. Also the easternmost island in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus is approximately 105kilometres (60 miles) west of Syria, 75kilometres (47 miles) south of Turkey and 380kilometres (200 miles) north of Egypt. The nearest Greek point is the Greek island of Rhodes which is 380kilometres (200miles) to the west. The island has a mild, typically Mediterranean climate, with abundant sunshine even in winter and little rainfall. Prominent geographic features include the Troodos massif that occupies most of the south western part of the country, the Pentadaktylos range in the north around Kyrenia and the Messaoria Plain in between them. It is here that the capital city, Lefkosia, is located.
The elongated Karpasia Peninsula occupies the north eastern part of Cyprus, while the south eastern point terminates in Cape Greko. The southern coast is where the major towns of Larnaka and Lemesos are located. Pafos and the Akamas Peninsula are on the far western edge.
The latitude of Cyprus is 34° 33'-35° 34' north, and its longitude 32° 16'-34° 37' east. East Mediterranean basin. 75km south of Turkey, 105 km west of Syria, 380 km north of Egypt, 380 km east of Rhodes (Greece).
Area 9,251sq. km. Third largest Mediterranean island after Sicily and Sardinia.
HISTORY OF CYPRUS
Cyprus is an island rich in archaeological heritage, history and customs.
7000-3900BC
The first Cyprus settlers date back to the NEOLITHIC/STONE AGE.
2000 and 1000 BC
The Mycenaean and Achaean Greeks colonize the island and Cyprus develops its Greek character.
750-325 BC -ARCHAIC AND CLASSICAL PERIOD
Cyprus comes under Assyrian, Egyptian and Persian domination. . King Evagoras of Salamis (who ruled from 411-374 BC) unifies Cyprus and makes the island one of the leading political and cultural centres of the Greek world.
333-325 BC
Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, arrives in Cyprus and makes it part of his empire.
325-58 BC HELLENISTIC PERIOD
Cyprus comes under the Hellenistic state of the Ptolemies of Egypt, and becomes part of the Greek Alexandrine world. The Ptolemies abolish the city-kingdoms and unify Cyprus. Pafos becomes the capital.
58 BC - 330 AD ROMAN PERIOD
Cyprus becomes a part of the Roman Empire. During the missionary journey of Saints Paul and Barnabas, the Proconsul Sergius Paulus is converted to Christianity and Cyprus becomes the first country to be governed by a Christian.
330-1191 AD BYZANTINE PERIOD
After the division of the Roman Empire Cyprus comes under the Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantium, with Constantinople as its capital. Christianity becomes the official religion.
1191-1192 RICHARD THE LIONHEART AND THE TEMPLARS
Richard the Lionheart occupies Cyprus and marries Berengaria of Navarre in Lemesos where she is crowned Queen of England. A year later he sells the island to the Knights Templars who resell it to Guy de Lusignan, deposed King of Jerusalern.
1192-1489 FRANKISH (LUSIGNAN) PERIOD
During this period the Catholic Church officially replaces the Greek Orthodox. However despite severe suppression the Greek Orthodox Church manages to survive. The city of Ammochostos becomes one of the richest in the Near East.
1489-1571 VENETIAN PERIOD
In an attempt to withstand the Ottoman Empire, Venetians take over Cyprus and fortify the island building impressive walls. They also unfortunately destroy a lot of buildings.
1571-1878 OTTOMAN PERIOD
The Ottoman invaders arrive spreading death to thousands. Lefkosia is captured while the Venetians manage to hold out in Ammochostos for a year, before being defeated to the Ottomans. The Muslim minority during the Ottoman period eventually acquires a Cypriot identity.
1878-1960 BRITISH PERIOD
Britain assumes administration of the island. It remains formally part of the Ottoman Empire until 1914 when Britain takes control of the island. In 1923 under the Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey gives up all rights to Cyprus and in 1925 Cyprus is declared a Crown colony. The Greek-Cypriots become eager for their independence but Britain is unwilling to give up the strategic advantages of Cyprus. So after negotiations fail, the Greek-Cypriots mounted a liberation struggle against British rule from 1955 to 1959 and in 1960 Cyprus finally gains its independence.
1960 REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
According to the Zurich-London Treaty, Cyprus becomes an independent republic on l6th August 1960. It is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement. According to the above treaty, Britain retains two Sovereign Bases on the island, at Dekeleia – Ayios Nicholas and Akrotiri- Episkopi.
1974 TURKISH INVASION
Turkey had been threatening to invade Cyprus throughout the 1960’s, the aim of the Turkish Cypriot leadership (acting on instructions from the Turkish Government) being to partition Cyprus. Finally in 1974, using as a pretext the coup of July 1974 (instigated against the Cyprus Government by the military Junta, then in power in Athens), Turkey invades Cyprus on July 20th1974, violating all principles governing international relations and the UN Charter.
As a result, about 37% of Northern Cyprus is today occupied by Turkey, 40% of the Greek Cypriot population violently uprooted and thousands of people, including civilians, killed, ill-treated or disappeared without trace. The continuation of Turkish military occupation and the violation of the fundamental human rights of the people of Cyprus have been condemned by international bodies, but until today Turkey refuses to withdraw from Cyprus and maintains the islands division by the force of arms.
2002 - EUROPEAN UNION
In December 2002, the European Council gave the green light for Cyprus to become a full EU member, as of May 1st 2004, regardless of a solution to the Cyprus problem. The UN Secretary General, Mr. Anan has personally delivered a proposed plan for the re-unification of Cyprus, which is currently under consideration by the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides. The plan proposes a Swiss-like government structure
THE PEOPLE OF CYPRUS
Population: 780,133 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.9% (male 83,256/female 79,701)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 267,446/female 260,846)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 38,766/female 50,118) (2005 est.)
Ethnic groups: Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)
Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%
Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
CYPRUS GOVERNMENT
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
Government type:
Republic
note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government;
Capital:
Nicosia
Administrative divisions:
6 districts; Famagusta, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos and Kyrenia
Independence:
16 August 1960 (from UK);
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1960);
Legal system:
based on common law, with civil law modifications
Cyprus Flag:
The Cyprus flag was defined in 1960 after independence. Independence Day: 1st October
Colour of the Cyprus flag: The ground is white. The map of the Island of Cyprus, in the middle, has the colour of copper. The crest under the island and the olive-tree leaves, have the colour of olive-green
CYPRUS ECONOMY:
General Well-known regional holiday resort, a services centre (mainly banking and shipping) and telecommunications node
Currency (Average Selling Rate) Cyprus Pound (CYP) = 1.8948 $US (Aug 03)
GDP £6191.5 M (2002)
Per Capita Income 15,159 Euro
Inflation 2.8% (2002)
Unemployment 3.6% (Jul 03) 3.2% (2002)
Domestic Exports* £231.6 M (2002)
Main: Manufacturing 63.8% (Clothing, Footwear, Cigarettes, Pharmaceuticals), Agriculture 14,8% (Potatoes, Citrus, Fruit), Geographic: EU 50,7% , Arab Countries 20,3%
Imports for Home Consumption £2256,4 M (2002)
Main: Consumer goods 28,4%, Intermediate Inputs 31,7%, Transport equipment 12,5%, Geographic: EU 55,8%, US 3,8%, Japan 5,2%
Tourism 2.4 M arrivals (2002), £1227 M foreign exchange receipts (2001
CYPRUS ECONOMY AFTER THE EU ACCESSION
The Cyprus accession to the European Union on May 1st 2004 provides an excellent opportunity for superior returns in the property market and here’s why:
1. EU membership 1 May 04 and resultant macro economic boost.
2. Latest European Commission economic forecasts
3. GDP growth of 3.9% (2005) and 4.2% (2006)
4. 2.4% inflation
5. 4% unemployment
6. Fiscal deficit below 3% by end of 2005
7. "Over the last three years demand for Cyprus property has increased by an average of 15% to 20% per annum. This will increase with EU membership as people from the landlocked central European countries, which are also destined to become member states, are expected to look for second homes on the island" (source: FT World Report)
8. 21.5% increase in population in 2003 (BA “Business Life” October 2004)
9. A falling interest rate environment. Central Bank of Cyprus base rate is 4.25% whilst the European Central Bank (ECB) rate is only 2%. Interest rates have to converge for possible Euro entry in 2007.
10. A potential devaluation of the Cypriot Pound prior to Euro entry in 2008, possibly adding up to 15% in sterling value.
11. The law restricting foreign ownership of property to just one per person, is to be lifted post 1 May 04 after a transitional period with the resultant boost to demand from large investors overseas.
12. The island has a world demand for property, including from a growing and affluent Russia and former Soviet states. There is also a large investor demand from Greek Cypriots living in the UK and US.
13. Highly educated, English speaking and low cost workforce will attract flows of capital from within the EU and other markets.
14. 60,000 British ex-pats provide an attractive community for UK retirees and a dynamic demand for quality property in quality areas
15. The weather, tourism and British nature of the island appeal to many affluent buyers. As English is spoken widely and is the second language, the appeal is international and not just confined to the UK.
16. Potential re-unification with the Turkish Cypriot north. Worth an estimated Euro600m in aid from the EU. Economists estimate growth rates of 6% per annum (source: FT World report) the multiplier effect from such an injection of funds will provide a massive overall increase in prosperity.
|
