PERTEV]; Communal Democracy Party or TDP [Mehmet CAKICIL]; Cyprus
Socialist Party or KSP [Yusuf ALKIM]; Democratic Party or DP [Serder
DENKTASH]; Freedom and Reform Party or ORP [Turgay AVCI]; National
Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Nationalist Justice Party or MAP
[Ata TEPE]; New Cyprus Party or YKP [Murat KANATLI]; Politics for
the People Party or HIS [Ahmet YONLUER]; Republican Turkish Party or
CTP [Ferdi Sabit SOYER]; United Cyprus Party or BKP [Izzet IZCAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of
Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot
Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO
(Communist controlled)
International organization participation:
Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer),
OIF (associate member), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas KAKOURIS
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772, 462-0873
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is
Hilmi AKIL; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone
[1] (202) 887-6198
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Frank C. URBANCIC, Jr.
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi,
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
FAX: [357] (22) 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 Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a white
field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance
from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red
crescent and a red five-pointed star
Economy ::Cyprus
Economy - overview:
The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a
market economy dominated by the service sector, which accounts for
78% of GDP. Tourism, financial services, and real estate are the
most important sectors. Erratic growth rates over the past decade
reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often fluctuates
with political instability in the region and economic conditions in
Western Europe. Nevertheless, the economy in the area under
government control has grown at a rate well above the EU average
since 2000. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism
(ERM2) in May 2005 and adopted the euro as its national currency on
1 January 2008. An aggressive austerity program in the preceding
years, aimed at paving the way for the euro, helped turn a soaring
fiscal deficit (6.3% in 2003) into a surplus of 1.2% in 2008, and
reduced inflation to 5.1%. This prosperity will come under pressure
in 2009, as construction and tourism slow in the face of reduced
foreign demand triggered by the ongoing global financial crisis.
Growth is expected to slow to less than 2%, which would be its
lowest level since 2003. As in the area administered by Turkish
Cypriots, water shortages are a perennial problem; a few
desalination plants have been added to existing plants over the last
year and are now on line. After 10 years of drought, the country
received substantial rainfall from 2001-04. Since then, rainfall has
been well below average, making water rationing a necessity.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$22.76 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$21.94 billion (2007 est.)
$21.02 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$24.92 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
4.4% (2007 est.)
4.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,300 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$20,900 (2007 est.)
$20,400 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 19.6%
services: 78.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
397,000 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 20.5%
services: 71% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
3.9% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 118
Investment (gross fixed):
23.3% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Budget:
revenues:: $11.19 billion
expenditures:: $10.96 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
49.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
74.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
2.4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 98
5% (31 December 2007)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.19% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 124
6.74% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$4.094 billion (31 December 2007)
note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Cypriot pounds
in circulation prior to Cyprus joining the Economic and Monetary
Union (EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply in
the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary
policy for the 16 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU
do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$43.93 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$80.68 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 42
$52.09 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 63
$29.48 billion (31 December 2007)
$15.9 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables; poultry,
pork, lamb; dairy, cheese
Industries:
tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum production,
ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal
products, wood, paper, stone, and clay products
Industrial production growth rate:
4.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - production:
4.502 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - consumption:
4.277 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - consumption:
59,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Oil - imports:
58,930 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Current account balance:
-$4.479 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
-$2.595 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.906 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$1.483 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, and clothing
Exports - partners:
Greece 20.1%, UK 10.8%, Germany 6% (2008)
Imports:
$10.54 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$7.957 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods,
machinery, transport equipment
Imports - partners:
Greece 16.9%, Italy 10.7%, UK 8.7%, Germany 8.3%, Israel 8.2%, China
5.3%, Netherlands 4.1%, France 4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.003 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$6.507 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$32.86 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$26.97 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$15.69 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$13.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$7.097 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$5.591 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), Cypriot pounds (CYP)
per US dollar - 0.4286 (2007), 0.4586 (2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686
(2004)
Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots:
Economy - overview: The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly 40% of
the per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be
volatile, given the north's relative isolation, bloated public
sector, reliance on the Turkish lira, and small market size.
Agriculture and services, together, employ more than half of the
work force. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew around 10.6% in 2006,
fueled by growth in the construction and education sectors, as well
as increased employment of Turkish Cypriots in the area under
government control. GDP declined about 2.0% in 2007. The Turkish
Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the Turkish
Government. Ankara directly finances about one-third of the "TRNC's"
budget. Aid from Turkey has exceeded $400 million annually in recent
years. The Turkish Cypriot economy probably will experience a sharp
slowdown in 2008-2009 due to the global financial crisis, because
the Turkish Cypriot financial sector is dominated by mainland
Turkish banks, and because of its reliance on British and Turkish
tourism, which has declined due to the recession.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.829 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita: $11,700 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.6%, industry: 22.5%,
services: 69.1% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%, industry: 29%,
services: 56.5% (2004)
Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: %NA
Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion, expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006)
Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes,
olives, poultry, lamb
Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay,
gypsum, copper, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005)
Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005)
Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Export - commodities: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles
Export - partners: Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area
administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government
control remains limited
Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Import - commodities: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals,
chemicals, machinery
Import - partners: Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area
administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government
control remains limited
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $NA
Debt - external: $NA
Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL)
Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar: 1.319 (2007) 1.4286
(2006) 1.3436 (2005) 1.4255 (2004) 1.5009 (2003)
Communications ::Cyprus
Telephones - main lines in use:
area under government control: 413,300 (2008); area administered by
Turkish Cypriots: 86,228 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 102
Telephones - mobile cellular:
area under government control: 1.017 million (2008); area
administered by Turkish Cypriots: 147,522 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 143
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent in both area under government control
and area administered by Turkish Cypriots
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish
Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of
submarine cables, including the SEA-ME-WE-3, combine to provide
connectivity to Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia;
tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1
Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1
Arabsat)
Radio broadcast stations:
area under government control: AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1
(2004)
Television broadcast stations:
area under government control: 8
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2 (plus 4 relay) (2004)
Internet country code:
.cy
Internet hosts:
185,451 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
Internet users:
334,400 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 121
Transportation ::Cyprus
Airports:
15 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Heliports:
9 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 14,630 km (area under government control: 12,280 km; area
administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2,350 km)
country comparison to the world: 123
paved: area under government control: 7,979 km (includes 257 km of
expressways); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 1,370 km
unpaved: area under government control: 4,301 km; area administered
by Turkish Cypriots: 980 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 858
country comparison to the world: 13
by type: bulk carrier 295, cargo 182, chemical tanker 63, container
193, liquefied gas 10, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 24, petroleum
tanker 58, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 12, specialized
tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 690 (Austria 1, Belgium 2, Canada 2, Chile 1, China
10, Cuba 1, Denmark 4, Estonia 5, Germany 189, Greece 259, Hong Kong
2, India 2, Iran 10, Ireland 3, Israel 4, Italy 7, Japan 21, South
Korea 1, Latvia 1, Lebanon 1, Netherlands 22, Norway 18, Philippines
1, Poland 18, Portugal 1, Russia 50, Singapore 3, Slovenia 4, Spain
6, Sweden 2, Syria 2, Ukraine 4, UAE 9, UK 19, US 5)
registered in other countries: 256 (Antigua and Barbuda 18, Bahamas
25, Belize 1, Burma 1, Cambodia 7, Comoros 1, Georgia 1, Germany 2,
Gibraltar 1, Greece 7, Liberia 63, Malta 31, Marshall Islands 37,
Netherlands 8, Netherlands Antilles 21, Panama 19, Poland 1, Russia
2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1,
Samoa 1, Singapore 1, Tonga 1, Turkey 2, UK 2, unknown 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos;; area
administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia
Military ::Cyprus
Military branches:
Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Forea, EF;
includes naval and air elements); northern Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot
Security Force (GKK) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): 18-50 years of age for
compulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of
age for voluntary service; women may volunteer for a 3-year term;
length of normal service is 25 months (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 16-49: 199,767
females age 16-49: 190,665 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 16-49: 165,615
females age 16-49: 159,362 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 6,241
female: 5,979 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Transnational Issues ::Cyprus
Disputes - international:
hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous
entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a
Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN
Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since
1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May
2004, Cyprus entered the European Union still divided, with the EU's
body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in
the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon
blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 210,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for
over 30 years) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cyprus is primarily a destination country for a
large number of women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe,
the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic for the purpose of
sexual exploitation; traffickers continued to fraudulently recruit
victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term
"artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or
for illegal work on tourist or student visas
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cyprus is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for a third consecutive year for failure to show evidence of
increasing efforts to combat human trafficking during 2007; although
Cyprus passed a new trafficking law and opened a government
trafficking shelter, these efforts are outweighed by its failure to
show tangible and critically needed progress in the areas of law
enforcement, victim protection, and the prevention of trafficking
(2008)
Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and
container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey;
some cocaine transits as well; despite a strengthening of
anti-money-laundering legislation, remains vulnerable to money
laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector
remains weak (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Czech Republic (Europe)
Introduction ::Czech Republic
Background:
Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and
Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form
Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's leaders
were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnic
minorities within the republic, most notably the Sudeten Germans and
the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II, a truncated
Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968,
an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's
leaders to liberalize Communist party rule and create "socialism
with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year
ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet
authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a
peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country
underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the
Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999
and the European Union in 2004.
Geography ::Czech Republic
Location:
Central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovikia, and Austria
Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 15 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 78,867 sq km
country comparison to the world: 115
land: 77,247 sq km
water: 1,620 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 815 km, Poland 615 km,
Slovakia 197 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain:
Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus
surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very
hilly country
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
Natural resources:
hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber
Land use:
arable land: 38.82%
permanent crops: 3%
other: 58.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
240 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
16 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.91 cu km/yr (41%/57%/2%)
per capita: 187 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
flooding
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in
northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain
damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should
improve domestic pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most
significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional
military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in
central Europe
People ::Czech Republic
Population:
10,211,904 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.6% (male 712,045/female 673,657)
15-64 years: 71% (male 3,641,887/female 3,604,044)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 623,882/female 956,389) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.1 years
male: 38.6 years
female: 41.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.094% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Birth rate:
8.83 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Death rate:
10.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Net migration rate:
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 211
male: 4.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.81 years
country comparison to the world: 61
male: 73.54 years
female: 80.28 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.24 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 10 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Nationality:
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech