Political parties and leaders: Greek Cypriot area: Restorative Party
of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios
CHRISTOFIAS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS];
Democratic Party or DIKO [Spyros KYPRIANOU]; United Democratic Union
of Cyprus or EDEK [Vassos LYSSARIDIS]; Eurodemocratic Renewal Movement
[Alexis GALANOS]; United Democrats Movement or EDI (formerly Free
Democrats Movement or KED) [George VASSILIOU]; New Horizons [Nikolaos
KOUTSOU, secretary general]; Ecologists [Yeoryios PERDHIKIS]; Turkish
Cypriot area: National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Communal
Liberation Party or TKP [Mustafa AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party or
CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]; Unity and Sovereignty Party or BEP [Arif Salih
KIRDAG]; Democratic Party or DP [Serdar DENKTASH]; National Birth
Party or UDP [Enuer EMIN]; New Cyprus Party of YKP [Alpay DURDURAN];
Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or
PEO (Communist controlled); Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK
(pro-West); Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen;
Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
NAM, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Andros A. NIKOLAIDES chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772 FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710 consulate(s) general: New York note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet ERDENGIZ, office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC, telephone [1] (202) 887-6198
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth C. BRILL embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836 telephone: [357] (2) 776400 FAX: [357] (2) 780944
Flag description: 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 between which is a red crescent and red star on a white field
@Cyprus:Economy
Economy-overview: The Greek Cypriot economy is small and prosperous, but highly susceptible to external shocks. Industry contributes 22% to GDP and employs 25% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes 73% to GDP and employs 62% of the labor force. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by political instability on the island and fluctuations in economic conditions in Western Europe. The Turkish Cypriot economy has about one-third the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture and government service, which together employ about half of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector. In January 1997, Turkey signed a $250 million economic cooperation accord with the Turkish Cypriot area to support tourism, education, and industry.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$11.19 billion (Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity-$9.75 billion; Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $1.44 billion) (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.4% (Greek Cypriot area: 2.5%; Turkish Cypriot area: 1.7%) (1997 est.)