NationMaster - Discussion - Cyprus Profile

WhiteMagick 9th July 2010	Latins in Cyprus speak Greek and Italian. Most speak Greek as a native tongue due to intermarriage. Armenians speak Armenian and Greek. A good number of them speak Armenian as a native tongue but the rest speak Greek due to intermarriage. Maronites speak Greek. Very few, mostly older people speak Maronite Arabic. The mother tongue of most Maronites is by far Greek mostly due to intermarriage.
Trevor McGee 30th March 2010	Hello! I'm doing a research on Cyprus economy but honestly I can't find much specific information about it. What I really need are statistical reports and figures that can show me what are the three main competitive markets in the last five years. Thank you very much. I'm waiting an answer as soon as possible because I really need to have a good grade or I will fail this subject! Help!
Michele 7th August 2009	You can find a lot of information about a country by the postage stamps that are issued. Cyprus has a chequered postal history with various sovereign reigns being depicted throughout its time. From the first stamps being issued around 1880, which were British stamps with Cyprus being overprinted on them right up to present day. Research Cyprus stamps and take a trip through the ages with the conquering heroes and more. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Michalis 5th July 2009	Hi, "Latins" is a category used BY Cyprus to denote Catholics. It's an officially recognized "community", with specific representation and other rights. The official "communities" are Greek (80%), Turkish (18%) and Maronite, Armenian and "Latin" (around 2% of total). Because they cannot, democratically, elect representatives die to their small size, the three small communities have "special" reprensentation and other rights. In the Zurich Accords, by which Cyprus became independent (had been a British Colony till 1960), for certain purposes the three smaller communities were asked to "join" one of the bigger communities. They chose to "join" the Greek Community for these purposes (eg quota in police force, Army, civil service etc).This is why you will often find 82% Greek (instead of 80%) and 18% Turkish as official Community figures. So "LATIN" means "Roman Catholic".
Maria (Canada) 2nd January 2009	Cyprus is a European country and not a Middle Eastern country, please try to get your facts right. I am Anglo Cypriot born in England. Only since I have been in North america have I ever experienced this predudicial relocation of Cyprus to a different continent. I have Greek cypriot and Turkish Cypriot relatives they are all Europeans.
Spyros (Limassol) 30th December 2008	Dear Senay, I hope that u r not serious with your remarks. The barriers were put up by a brutal military regime that exists to this day in Turkey and its effects are still being felt in Cyprus. Opening the barriers for people to cross and visit their houses, villages and towns using day passes is not by any means a bridge of peace as you say but just a sign of guilt and attempts to elude public opinion on peace efforts. We have a saying in Cyprus "Its easy to fart with someone else's a**". Meaning if you steal or taking something for free, it costs u nothing to give some of it back back to show u r good natured and giving. Thank you for letting us see our lands and properties, while proper Turkish Cypriots enjoy full rights and privileges in the "South" as u call it.
Kate (Cyprus) 11th July 2008	I didnt know there are Latin Cypriots and I have lived here all my life!!! It really must be just a few people or none at all because as far as I know the only time latins where in Cyprus were in the times of the Romans and since then it has been a very very long time.
Michael (Paris) 20th December 2007	In response to Mr Senay , it would be rather difficult to "break down barriers" when there is a large foreign Turkish army illegaly and somewhat brutally occupying a third of the Republic of Cyprus. Peace does not come form the end of bayonet.
George (USA) 2nd December 2007	The Turks use the intended massacre of the Turkish Cypriotes as an excuse for Turkey to intervene,Isnt that what Hitler said in the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia in 1936?
Holden 9th May 2007	If Turkish Cypriots are unable to accept the 80+% majority Greek Cypriot dominance then the least they can do is have the common courtesy to leave and go to Turkey as they have caused enough problems on this island already.
Dimitris (CY) 24th April 2007	Thousands of Turkish Cypriots killed during the events of 1963-67? Well, not really! In fact the two communities suffered almost equal numbers of casualties during the intercomunal conflict - a few hundred each. So please people be a bit careful on what you are posting - at least do some reading from independent sources and don't allow yourselves to become the victims of propaganda. As for whether the TCs were kicked out of government in 1963, I suggest you ask Rauf Denktash himself. The TCs were ordered by Ankara to walk out following the 13-point constitution amendments that Makarios tabled at the time. TCs may well have either negotiated them or reject them without walking out. Regards, D
Şenay (England) 18th April 2007	Being a mix of British and Turkish Cypriot myself I'd just like to say that if you go to the border between North and South today, you can see that the North (mainly Turkish population) in many places have tried to break down the barriers, which are more rigorously enforced by the South (mainly Greek), one of which actually has a sign for the Southerners to read which says 'those who watch from the wall of shame, this is the bridge of peace' in reference to a bridge they hope to open soon and the wall at the end of it that the South refuse to bring down. Just thought someone might be interested.
Maria Keryniotou (USA) 2nd December 2006	This refers to Hasan's reference to "what the Greek Cypriots were doing to the Turkish Cypriots pre-1974!!!!" I remember very clearly those events. My paternal grand-father did a great-deal of crop-sharing with Turkish Cypriots ever since the beginning. I grew up, seeing Turks picking carobs and olives with us, and taking them to the mills. Then the products were divided between my grand-father and the Turks, even though the land and the trees etc belonged to him. I also remember us all sitting down in a group and picking/separating garbanzo beans from their stems, and sharing stories and having tall tale competitions. My maternal grand-parents had Turkish neighbors when my mother and her siblings were growing up. Every Monday, they all used to go together to St George's chapel on Pendadaktylos to light candles and pray. By the time we grew up, they had moved to the Turkish quarter, but my grand-father still considered them his friends. That's why he stayed behind, in July 1974, when everyone else left my town. He believed, that they would be able to help him protect our properties, since my father was killed on our verandah during the bombing of our residential area. He trusted them, but they were not able to help him. Instead, the then Turkish officers refused to give him his diabetes medication, sent to him by his son, through the UNO. As a result, he also lost his life. Many others did too! I am very fair-minded, but human rights violations are not forgivable. Hasan, Turkey did invade Cyprus in 1974. It did not just intervened to protect the Turkish Cypriots, who had an undisputed right to remain in their home-land, run their property as they liked, as I remember them doing, for a long time, after they moved into the enclaves. They came and went by bus, watered their orchards, and took care of their properties, without any Greek Cypriot bothering them! However, the result of the invasion is well-known: thousands of lives lost, people tortured and inhumanely treated; many of them vanished, and an cruel forced re-location of populations. That's what war brings about! Let's hope it is not repeated, and a just solution is found, for ALL concerned, not just the Turkish Cypriots, but ALL THE OTHER CYPRIOTS, as well as the others who were hurt by the INVASION. WE ALL NEED BOTH JUSTICE AND PEACE!!! Maria
peter (nigeria) 25th June 2006	i want to know weather there is any university by name(girne american university cyprus)
Ashh_. 16th May 2006	Im doing a project on this country. its really interesting to learn about a country thats really small. Theres lots of information for a small country. Im really glad im doing this cool country.
Dinos 8th November 2005	Whether a country belongs to the Middle East depends on its geographical position, and not on its politics. Cyprus is definitely a Middle Eastern country, even though politically it has little to nothing to do with the other countries in the Middle East. If Syria (or Israel, which has practically joined already...) were to join the EU would you stop calling it a Middle Eastern country? Same goes for Greece. Greece is, whether you like it or not, part of the Balkans. It being a member of the EU for over 20 years doesn't change that. Moreover, don't "we" (as Greeks) also refer to Turkey as Asia Minor? Then if you call Turkey Asia (which it is, apart from Western Constantinople), then you simply can't call Cyprus Europe..
Etzel 6th November 2005	Turkey's peace operation in 1974 ended 11 years of genocide against the Turkish Cypriots.The Turkish Cypriot Genocide started in 1963 when Greek Cypriots forcefully took over the control of the legislative,judiciary and executive organs of the island.According to the Cyprus Republic found in 1960 Turkish Cypriots had political equality.But with the start of the Turkish Cypriot genocide in 1963, the Turkish Cypriots were kicked out of the government and forced to live in enclaves.During the genocide thousands of turkish Cypriots died or went missing, thousands were wounded and tens of thousands of Turkish Cypriots had to flee their ancestral land Cyprus to save their lives.The genocide ended in 1974 with Turkey's peace operation to stop Greece from annexing the island.Since 1963 the Greek occupied republic of Cyprus is recognised illegally as the Cyprus government though the Turkish Cypriots whose consent is a must for any action on Cyprus will never approve this occupation.
Anton 30th October 2005	Hello all. Does anyone know how much money Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot administration has spent on Defense since 1974
Nicolas 30th October 2005	RE: If it was not for Turkey there would not be one Turkish Cypriot left in Cyprus and that is a fact There are still large communities of Turkish Cypriots that live quite safely and happily without "ethnic cleansing" on the free side of Cyprus. Not to mention the thousands of Turkish Cypriots that commute across the green line everyday to work safely in free Cyprus. As for the "research" you speak of, just because a few opposition funded sites have posted half-truths about what was happening in the 1963-1974 period, doesn't make them research sources. The fact of the matter is that INTER-COMMUNAL fighting broke out in 1963. This means that BOTH communities had people causing trouble. Greek Cypriots were also murdered and subjected to terror tactics by Turkish Cypriot militia groups. Let us not forget that Ralph Denktash himself was imprisoned during his life by the British forces for instigating trouble. Further more, any incursion into another country's lands, unless performed under UN mandate, constitutes an INVASION. No matter how you try to paint it, Turkey's actions in 1974, which amongst other effects meant that the law on abortion in Cyprus had to change due to the number of girls and women that were raped by the invading soldiers, and their continued presence on the island of 40000 troops shows that Turkeys' move was one of political interest for the mainlands' safety and not one of securing Turkish Cypriot safety.
tasawar 26th October 2005	what is the new rules for the illegal stay in Cyprus.is there any new rules for the the illegal people to make them legal there.
Hasan 20th October 2005	Turkey never invaded Cyprus since it was an intervention. Turkey saved the Turkish Cypriots from ethnic cleansing! If it was not for Turkey there would not be one Turkish Cypriot left in Cyprus and that is a fact. It doesn't take much research to find out what the Greek Cypriots were doing to the Turkish Cypriots pre 1974!!!!!!
Nick 19th October 2005	MONITORS RE:"The latest two-year round of UN-brokered direct talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004 referendum." I have grown tired of seeing this everywhere. First and foremost, the Republic of Cyprus is a free republic in which a large number of peoples live side by side in the free areas of the island, PEACEFULLY and as full members of the democratic state. These include peoples of Hellenic, Venitian, Maronite, Persian, Arabic AND even Turkish background. All these peoples are considered equally Cypriot and a have the right to vote. This means that the 'no' majority in the 2004 referendum was not simply a Greek Cypriot decision, but rather a decision of the free Cypriot peoples. Further to this, the administration of the Turkish occupied north alongside Turkish Government has been opposing UN peace plans for over 30 years, and none has ever paid the slightest bit of attention to this fact. However, when the Cypriot public refused the latest plan, they were met with threats of international retribution. The 2004 draft of the Annan Plan for Cyprus was not refused because it granted concessions to Turkish Cypriots, but rather because it granted too many concessions to Turkey and too few to the rest of the Cypriot public. Amongst the many unbalances in the "Annan Plan" the following were just too unfair to accept: - An agreement to the Annan Plan would have meant that the 18% Turkish Cypriot population would constitutionally control 50% of the parliamentary seats compared to the other 50% parliamentary seats shared between the remaining 82% of the Cypriot population. This is not a case of equal rights but rather minority rule. - The Islands' government would have been a rotating seat government between the Turkish Cypriot community and the remaining Cypriot community, however the former would have the right to overturn any decisions made during the later's parliamentary rule (a privileged not granted to the later). -It would mean a nullification of all rights regarding legal action against Turkey for reparations for crimes/damage that resulted from Turkeys' actions during the 1974 invasion. - It would have meant the denial of the right of tens of thousands of Cypriots to return to homes and property they were forced to flee from during the 1974 invasion. - The dispersal of the Cypriot national guard (Cyprus Army), but the continued presence of Turkish Sovereign troops on the island. - It would have also meant that Turkey would have a continued right to "military incursion" whenever it saw the need. Other proposals that were disliked included: - the replacement of the current flag of the Cypriot Republic with something that in my opinion highlights the division rather than moves to unite. The current flag may be view on the webpage above, and makes no reference to Turkish, Hellenic, Maronite, etc communities but rather focuses on the island itself and the reath representing peace between all communities. The proposed flag is a copper coloured flag with two horizontal lines on it, one blue and one red, representing Hellenic and Turkish communities on the island. Firstly this is a blatent example of the kind of divisional tactics that have been perused for years by international politics, and secondly, if we are creating a flag that has a representation of the islands' communities, where are the lines for the other communities? Finally and again, what was wrong with the original plan in the first place. - It would have meant that the subject of the Islands' history would no longer be a permitted subject in state schools as it is seen as offensive to Turkish Cypriots from the occupied areas. I would like to point out that in the United States, the fact that the position of the southern states during the war of independence is still made crystal clear in history lessons, is not a sore point for people from the southern states. The Cypriot public are tired of being divided and sub-divided. We are a very small island state. However, due to our geographic position between three continents, we became easy an target for invading armies and people who sought a vantage point on the surrounding regions throughout history. I hope that I have highlighted some of the problems faced by Cyprus in this conflict and the reason that this version of the plan was refused. I also hope that the future will hold a solution that is just and fair for Cypriots of all ethnic backgrounds.
Neophytos 11th October 2005	MONITORS....Cyprus is not a Middle Eastern country. It is in the EUROPEAN UNION...I'd appreciate it if you would change the Nationmaster map to reflect this fact. Thanks.
Paulynyc 28th September 2005	"Intervention"...31 years--that's got to be the longest "intervention" in the history of the world! I've also heard the invasion referred to by successive Turkish governments as a "peace operation." How tidy. Bombing and napalming unarmed civilians, raping women from 12 to 80, ethnically cleansing over 200 thousand people from their homes and pumping in tens of thousands of Anatolian to bolster their puppet state--are there even any real Turkish Cypriots left in the north, who were the original pretext for the "intervention?"--defiling and pillaging ancient Christian sanctuaries and cemeteries, selling stolen lands to wealthy northern Europeans with no conscience, trying so desperately to erase any trace of Hellenism in their 31-year occupation, creating a Turkish province for (admittedly) purely "strategic military purposes," and then using propaganda to twist the facts and propagandize their abomination as an "intervention"--it's sickening, and it's a pattern that has been repeated in Greco-Turkish history for centuries. An even more disturbing development is that for the last 31 years, Turkey has occupied one-third of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Cyprus, an EU-member country, with a force of 40 thousand troops and US-made weapons, while it strenuously pursues EU membership itself...
aidan 14th August 2005	And what of the 1,800 Greek-Cypriots who were 'lost' after being captured during this 'non invasion', and the consistent refusal to hand over evidence to the UN war crimes investigation. In addition, what of the homes that were taken? What of compensation for those families who lost husbands and sons? Greek families had to flee and leave everything behind. Considering that the Turkish army did not have a presence in Cyprus before, they 'arrived' in large numbers and pushed across Cyprus and instead of pulling the Turkish Cypriots out and leaving, they remained and fortified positions. It's pretty strange to call that anything other then an invasion.
pericles 18th July 2005	In responce to janissary`s comment.Yes u are telling the truth. Turkey is a savior , that`s why when she "intervened" to save the turkish cypriots 200000 greek cypriots became refugees in their one country. That`s why thousands of people were killed and raped. That`s why the 500 greek cypriot churches in the north are now mosques stables and even cazinos.If anyone has a problem dont worry. Feel freely to ask Turkey to intervene. She`s a savior. Thank u.
Abir 14th July 2005	Turkey did invade Northern Cyprus, almost in the same way Israel invaded the South of Lebanon for 21 years till we kicked them out in 2001. Northern Cyprus is only recognized by Turkey, even the UN does not recognize it. There are many Greek Cypriots who cannot return to their homes, whose homes were stolen from there, and were forced to exile to the south. Any and ALL invasions and occupation are just not right under basic human rights ethics and morals, and it is just unacceptable. I wonder why Turkey wasnt accepted into the EU?hmmmmmm....
Peter 7th July 2005	And you are still saving them after 30 years? what are you saving them from? And why it is only recognized by Turkey and not by the rest of the world? I guess you are "right" and the rest of the world is "wrong" !!!
joey 29th June 2005	can you help be by telling me a few basic words for the language of cyrus?
janissary 21st June 2005	There is a big mistake in one of the commentaries.Turkey didn't invaded Northern Cyprus.We saved our people forum the Greek Cypriots' massacre.It is the true one.
Keith 1st April 2005	You have a lot of questions. "Kipriaki Dimokratia [Kypros]/K?Cumhuriyeti (Republic of Cyprus) The Kuzey K?T?"
Typsi 1st April 2005	Jews of unmixed ancestry should move to Cyprus and blend in with the Maronite while maintaining their Jewish faith. I believe that Cyprus needs a Jewish population, they already have Christians and Muslims. Bringing together Jews and their language with the Maronite s and their language would create a Judeo-Arabic all of its own. Which be a nice touch to both communities.
Jane 31st March 2005	Cyprus's Latin cuisine is very delicious, and is filled with influences of other Mediterranean cuisine (principally Italian). The people there are very nice and courteous. In addition, their meals are always served with their finest wines.
ڭربيةلع 30th March 2005	The courts exercising criminal jurisdiction in the Republic of Cyprus were district courts, assize courts, and the Supreme Court in its appellate functions. District courts served as the courts of first instance for all but the most serious crimes; their jurisdiction was over any crime with a penalty of up to three years' imprisonment, a fine of up to C£500 (Cyprus pound), or both. Assize courts had unlimited jurisdiction in the first instance but in practice heard only a small percentage of the cases coming before the district courts. The Supreme Court heard all criminal appeals but had no original jurisdiction in criminal matters. There were no special courts to deal with security or political offenses, and civilians were not subject to trial by military courts. The court system in the Turkish-administered area was similar to that of the Republic of Cyprus. In district courts, a judge sitting alone had jurisdiction to try summarily all offenses punishable by imprisonment not exceeding three years. Assize courts, composed of three judges, had jurisdiction to try offenses punishable with more than three years imprisonment. The Supreme Court dealt with criminal appeals from assize courts and district courts, but did not exercise initial jurisdiction in criminal matters except when, sitting as the Supreme Council of Judicature, it might try the president for treason or the prime minister and other ministers for charges preferred by the Legislative Assembly. District courts of the Republic of Cyprus sat permanently, consisted of one judge each, and conducted exclusively summary trials held immediately after preliminary inquiries. Assize courts met three times a year in each judicial district and were each composed of three judges chosen from the district court. Assize courts heard preliminary inquiries, or trials of information, after which the accused could be discharged or bound over for trial. Trial procedure was based on English common law and was identical in both courts: the charge was read, the accused entered a plea, the prosecution presented witnesses and evidence, the defense presented its case, closing statements were made, and the verdict and sentence were handed down. Cases were generally tried before judges, although a request for a jury trial was usually granted. Within ten days of the pronouncement of sentence, the accused could appeal any case involving a sentence of imprisonment or a fine over C£20. The accused could appeal either a conviction or a sentence; the prosecutor could also appeal a sentence or, from a district court, a judgment. All appeals went to the Supreme Court and had to be heard by at least three of its seven members. The Supreme Court had wide latitude in its appeal findings: it could increase, decrease, or modify a sentence; it could acquit or convict in overruling a lower court; or it could remand a case to the lower court for retrial. Defendants had the right to be present at their trials, to be represented by counsel, to be provided with a public defender if unable to afford a lawyer, to confront witnesses, and to present evidence in their own defense. According to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices published annually by the United States Department of State, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention were provided by law and respected in practice by both the Government of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot authorities. Preventive detention was not legally authorized, and was not reported in practice. Under the Greek Cypriot system, no one could be held for more than one day for investigation of a crime without referral of the case to the courts for extension. Most periods of investigative detention did not exceed eight or ten days before formal charges were filed. Attorneys had free access to detainees. Punishments allowed by law included death by hanging, imprisonment up to life, whipping, and fines. Criminal punishments as actually implemented were light. The death penalty, which could be handed down for premeditated murder, high treason, piracy, and certain capital offenses under military law, was in practice commuted by the president of the republic. The punishment of whipping was not imposed in practice. The few long prison sentences handed down by Greek Cypriot courts were usually shortened by pardons or parole actions. The vast majority of punishments for criminal convictions were in the form of fines. Prisoners in the Republic of Cyprus were housed in the Nicosia Central Prison. The prison population was very low. In 1990, of 260 inmates, 65 were aliens. Thus, although foreigners constituted only 1 percent of the population, they accounted for 25 percent of the prisoners. Most of these were Middle Easterners convicted of drug trafficking. Both the Cyprus constitution and the basic document governing the Turkish Cypriot community specifically prohibited torture. In both communities freedom from cruel, unhuman, or degrading treatment was provided by law and respected in practice. Adequate health care was provided in detention facilities, and diets were considered normal. Family members were permitted monthly visits after conviction, and attorneys could visit at any time.
John 29th March 2005	In response to Carmen: Latin is the native tongue of Latin Cypriots. Therefore, to call Latin a "dead language" is a misnomer.
John 29th March 2005	In response to Carmen: Latin is the native tongue of Latin Cypriots. Therefore, to call Latin a "dead language" is a false classification.
Yo! 29th March 2005	Upon the establishment of the Cyprus Republic in 1960, many minority religious groups became recognized through constitutional law. Among these groups were the Maronites, the Armenians and the Latins. The Latins, a Roman Catholic religious group, has a history that dates back many centuries. Today the Latin population is estimated at approximately 1,700 Cypriot nationals, while the number of Latin registered voters is 645. In 1960, when the Constitution was being drafted, the group wanted to be referred to as a “Roman Catholic religious group”. The Maronites then objected because they too were Roman Catholic. Taking the initiative, Sir Hugh Foot, the last British Governor of Cyprus, suggested they be referred to as “Latins”. The group accepted the compromise. Despite the fact that only about 50 of the original families are still living in Cyprus, this does not stop the Latin community from preserving their culture and religion. The Latin religious group is directly linked with Rome. Churches have been established in Nicosia, Larnaca and the Limassol seafront. They work closely with other religious groups so they may maintain their religion.
Carmen 29th March 2005	Do Latin Cypriots speak Latin or do they speak some other language?
efthokia lambri 2nd March 2005	Hi, I need to know what Cyprus defines as a crime.

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