*Cyprus, Government
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Robert E. LAMB
embassy:
corner of Therissos Street and Dositheos Street, Nicosia
mailing address:
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 16.5% to GDP and employs 29% of the labor force, while the
service sector contributes 62% to GDP and employs 57% of the labor force.
Rapid growth in exports of agricultural and manufactured products and in
tourism have played important roles in the average 6.8% rise in GDP between
1986 and 1990. This progress was temporarily checked in 1991, because of the
adverse effects of the Gulf War on tourism. Nevertheless 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. In addition, the Turkish
government extended a $100 million loan in November 1992 to be used for
economic development projects in 1993. Turkey normally underwrites a
substantial portion of the Turkish Cypriot economy.
National product:
Greek area:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.3 billion (1992)
Turkish area:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $600 million (1990)
National product real growth rate: Greek area:
6.5% (1992)
Turkish area:
5.9% (1990)
National product per capita:
Greek area:
$11,000 (1992)
Turkish area:
$4,000 (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Greek area:
5.1% (1991)
Turkish area:
69.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
Greek area:
2.4% (1991)
Turkish area:
1.5% (1991)
Budget:
revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $2.2 billion, including capital
expenditures of $350 million (1993)
Exports:
$875 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes
partners:
UK 23%, Greece 10%, Lebanon 10%, Germany 5%
Imports:
$2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery
partners:
UK 13%, Japan 12%, Italy 10%, Germany 9.1%
*Cyprus, Economy
External debt:
$1.9 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 0.4% (1991); accounts for 16.5% 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:
contributes 6% to GDP and employs 14% of labor force in the south; major
crops - potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, citrus fruits;
vegetables and fruit provide 25% of export revenues
Illicit drugs:
transit point for heroin via air routes and container traffic to Europe,
especially from Lebanon and Turkey
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:
1 Cypriot pound (#C) = 100 cents; 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus
Exchange rates:
NA
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:
1,299 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,045,037 GRT/37,119,933 DWT;
includes 10 short-sea passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 463 cargo, 77
refrigerated cargo, 24 roll-on/roll-off, 70 container, 4 multifunction large
load carrier, 110 oil tanker, 3 specialized tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 26
chemical tanker, 32 combination ore/oil, 422 bulk, 3 vehicle carrier, 48
combination bulk, 1 railcar carrier, 2 passenger; note - a flag of
convenience registry; Cuba owns 27 of these ships, Russia owns 36, Latvia
also has 7 ships, Croatia owns 2, and Romania 5
Airports:
total:
13
usable:
13
with permanent-surface runways:
10
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
7
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
excellent in both the area controlled by the Cypriot Government (Greek
area), and in the Turkish-Cypriot administered area; 210,000 telephones;
largely open-wire and microwave radio relay; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 8
FM, 1 (34 repeaters) TV in Greek sector and 2 AM, 6 FM and 1 TV in Turkish
sector; international service by tropospheric scatter, 3 submarine cables,
and satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT and EUTELSAT earth stations
*Cyprus, Defense Forces
Branches:
Greek area:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including air and naval elements), Greek
Cypriot Police
Turkish area:
Turkish Cypriot Security Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 185,371; fit for military service 127,536; reach military
age (18) annually 5,085 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $209 million, 5% of GDP (1990 est.)