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5 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Cyprus \Cy"prus\ (s?"pr?s), n. [OE. cipres, cypirs; perh. so
named as being first manufactured in Cyprus. Cf. {Cipers}.]
A thin, transparent stuff, the same as, or corresponding to,
crape. It was either white or black, the latter being most
common, and used for mourning. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Lawn as white as driven snow,
Cyprus black as e'er was crow. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Cyprus
n 1: a country on the island of Cyprus; 80% of the people are of
Greek origin and 20% or Turkish origin [syn: {Republic
of Cyprus}]
2: an island in the eastern Mediterranean
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Cyprus
one of the largest islands of the Mediterranean, about 148 miles
long and 40 broad. It is distant about 60 miles from the Syrian
coast. It was the "Chittim" of the Old Testament (Num. 24:24).
The Greek colonists gave it the name of Kypros, from the cyprus,
i.e., the henna (see {CAMPHIRE}), which grew on this
island. It was originally inhabited by Phoenicians. In B.C. 477
it fell under the dominion of the Greeks; and became a Roman
province B.C. 58. In ancient times it was a centre of great
commercial activity. Corn and wine and oil were produced here in
the greatest perfection. It was rich also in timber and in
mineral wealth.
It is first mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 4:36) as the
native place of Barnabas. It was the scene of Paul's first
missionary labours (13:4-13), when he and Barnabas and John Mark
were sent forth by the church of Antioch. It was afterwards
visited by Barnabas and Mark alone (15:39). Mnason, an "old
disciple," probaly one of the converts of the day of Pentecost
belonging to this island, is mentioned (21:16). It is also
mentioned in connection with the voyages of Paul (Acts 21:3;
27:4). After being under the Turks for three hundred years, it
was given up to the British Government in 1878.
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:
Cyprus, fair; fairness
From CIA World Factbook 2002 [world02]:
Cyprus
Introduction Cyprus
-------------------
Background: Independence from the UK was
approved in 1960 with constitutional
guarantees by the Greek Cypriot
majority to the Turkish Cypriot
minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored
attempt to seize the government was
met by military intervention from
Turkey, which soon controlled almost
40% of the island. In 1983, the
Turkish-held area declared itself
the "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus", but it is recognized only
by Turkey. UN-led talks on the
status of Cyprus resumed in December
1999 to prepare the ground for
meaningful negotiations leading to a
comprehensive settlement.
Geography Cyprus
----------------
Location: Middle East, island in the
Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355
sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot
area)
water: 10 sq km
land: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of
Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 648 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to
the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot,
dry summers and cool winters
Terrain: central plain with mountains to
north and south; scattered but
significant plains along southern
coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Olympus 1,951 m
Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum,
timber, salt, marble, clay earth
pigment
Land use: arable land: 10.61%
permanent crops: 4.65%
other: 84.74% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity;
droughts
Environment - current issues: water resource problems (no natural
reservoir catchments, seasonal
disparity in rainfall, sea water
intrusion to island's largest
aquifer, increased salination in the
north); water pollution from sewage
and industrial wastes; coastal
degradation; loss of wildlife
habitats from urbanization
Environment - international party to: Air Pollution,
agreements: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants
Geography - note: the third largest island in the
Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and
Sardinia)
People Cyprus
-------------
Population: 767,314 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.4% (male 87,981;
female 84,168)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 258,414;
female 252,778)
65 years and over: 11% (male 36,607;
female 47,366) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.57% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 12.91 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/
female
total population: 1 male(s)/female
(2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.08 years
female: 79.5 years (2002 est.)
male: 74.77 years
Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 400 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups: Greek 85.2%, Turkish 11.6%, other
3.2% (2000)
Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%,
Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and
other 4%
Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 97%
male: 98.7%
female: 95% (1999)
Government Cyprus
-----------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area
refers to itself as the "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)
Government type: republic
note: a disaggregation 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 after a Greek junta-based
coup attempt gave the Turkish
Cypriots de facto control in the
north; Greek Cypriots control the
only internationally recognized
government; on 15 November 1983
Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf
DENKTASH declared independence and
the formation of a "Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC),
recognized only by Turkey; both
sides publicly support a settlement
based on a federation (Greek Cypriot
position) or confederation (Turkish
Cypriot position)
Capital: Nicosia
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia,
Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos;
note - Turkish Cypriot area's
administrative divisions include
Kyrenia, all but a small part of
Famagusta, and small parts of
Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca
Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK); note -
Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed
self-rule on 13 February 1975
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960);
note - Turkish Cypriot area
celebrates 15 November (1983) as
Independence Day
Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to
create the basis for a new or
revised constitution to govern the
island and to better relations
between Greek and Turkish Cypriots
have been held intermittently; in
1975 Turkish Cypriots created their
own constitution and governing
bodies within the "Turkish Federated
State of Cyprus," which was renamed
the "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution
for the Turkish Cypriot area passed
by referendum on 5 May 1985
Legal system: based on common law, with civil law
modifications
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Glafcos
CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993);
note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president
is currently vacant; under the 1960
constitution, the post is reserved
for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President
Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February
1993); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president
is currently vacant; under the 1960
constitution, the post is reserved
for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers
appointed jointly by the president
and vice president
elections: president elected by
popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 February 1998
(next to be held NA February 2003)
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been
"president" of the Turkish Cypriot
area since 13 February 1975
("president" elected by popular vote
for a five-year term); elections
last held 15 April 2000 (next to be
held NA April 2005); results - Rauf
R. DENKTASH reelected president
after the other contender withdrew;
Dervis EROGLU has been "prime
minister" of the Turkish Cypriot
area since 16 August 1996; there is
a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in
the Turkish Cypriot area
election results: Glafcos CLERIDES
reelected president; percent of vote
- Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George
IAKOVOU 49.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral - Greek Cypriot area:
House of Representatives or Vouli
Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned
to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish
Cypriots; note - only those assigned
to Greek Cypriots are filled;
members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms); Turkish
Cypriot area: Assembly of the
Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50
seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
election results: Greek Cypriot
area: House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - AKEL
34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS
6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party
- AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19, DIKO
9, KISOS 4, others 4; Turkish
Cypriot area: Assembly of the
Republic - percent of vote by party
- UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP 15.4%,
CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP
1.2%; seats by party - UBP 24, DP
13, TKP 7, CTP 6
elections: Greek Cypriot area: last
held 27 May 2001 (next to be held NA
May 2006); Turkish Cypriot area:
last held 6 December 1998 (next to
be held NA December 2003)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges are appointed
jointly by the president and vice
president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court
in the Turkish Cypriot area
Political parties and leaders: Greek Cypriot area: Democratic Party
or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS];
Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos
ANASTASIADHIS]; Eurodemocratic
Renewal Movement or KEA [Antonis
PASCHALIDES]; Fighting Democratic
Movement or ADIK [Dinos
MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus
[George PERDIKIS]; New Horizons
[Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative
Party of the Working People or AKEL
(Communist Party) [Dimitrios
CHRISTOFIAS]; Social Democrats
Movement or KISOS (formerly United
Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK)
[Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats
Movement or EDE [George VASSILIOU];
Turkish Cypriot area: Communal
Liberation Party or TKP [Huseyin
ANGOLEMLI]; Democratic Party or DP
[Salih COSAR]; National Birth Party
or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity
Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our
Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU];
Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH
[Izzet IZCAN]; Republican Turkish
Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]
Political pressure groups and Confederation of Cypriot Workers or
leaders: 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 Australia Group, C, CCC, CE, EBRD,
participation: ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Erato
KOZAKOU-MARCOULLIS
chancery: 2211 R Street NW,
Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
note: representative of the Turkish
Cypriot area in the US is Osman
ERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW,
Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202)
887-6198
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Donald
US: K. BANDLER
embassy: corner of Metochiou and
Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536,
FPO AE 09836
telephone: [357] (22) 776400
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 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
Economy Cyprus
--------------
Economy - overview: Economic affairs are affected by the
division of the country. The Greek
Cypriot economy is prosperous but
highly susceptible to external
shocks. Erratic growth rates in the
1990s reflect the economy's
vulnerability to swings in tourist
arrivals, caused by political
instability in the region and
fluctuations in economic conditions
in Western Europe. Economic policy
is focused on meeting the criteria
for admission to the EU. As in the
Turkish sector, water shortages are
a perennial problem; a few
desalination plants are now online.
The Turkish Cypriot economy has less
than one-half 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. It
remains heavily dependent on
agriculture and government service,
which together employ about half of
the work force. To compensate for
the economy's weakness, Turkey
provides substantial direct and
indirect aid to tourism, education,
industry, etc.
GDP: Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power
parity - $9.1 billion (2001 est.);
Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing
power parity - $1.1 billion (2000
est.)
GDP - real growth rate: Greek Cypriot area: 2.6% (2001
est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 0.8%
(2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power
parity - $15,000 (2001 est.);
Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing
power parity - $7,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: Greek Cypriot area: agriculture
4.6%, industry 19.9%, services 75.5%
(2001); Turkish Cypriot area:
agriculture 8.3%, industry 20.7%,
services 71.0% (2000)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Greek Cypriot area: 1.9% (2001
est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 53.2%
(2000 est.)
Labor force: Greek Cypriot area: 291,000; Turkish
Cypriot area: 86,300 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: Greek Cypriot area: services 73%,
industry 22%, agriculture 5% (2000);
Turkish Cypriot area: services
56.4%, industry 22.8%, agriculture
20.8% (1998)
Unemployment rate: Greek Cypriot area: 3% (2001 est.);
Turkish Cypriot area: 5.6% (1999
est.)
Budget: revenues: Greek Cypriot area - $2.4
billion (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot
area - $294 million (2000 est.)
expenditures: Greek Cypriot area -
$3.7 billion, including capital
expenditures of $539 million (2001
est.); Turkish Cypriot area - $495
million, including capital
expenditures of $60 million (2000
est.)
Industries: food, beverages, textiles,
chemicals, metal products, tourism,
wood products
Industrial production growth rate: Greek Cypriot area: 2.2% (1999);
Turkish Cypriot area: -0.3% (1999)
Electricity - production: 3.13 billion kWh (1999); Turkish
Cypriot area: NA kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
hydro: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 2.911 billion kWh (1999); Turkish
Cypriot area: NA kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, citrus, vegetables,
barley, grapes, olives, vegetables
Exports: Greek Cypriot area: $851 million
(f.o.b., 2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot
area: $50.7 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities: Greek Cypriot area: citrus,
potatoes, grapes, wine, cement,
clothing and shoes; Turkish Cypriot
area: citrus, potatoes, textiles
Exports - partners: Greek Cypriot area: EU 36% (UK 17%,
Greece 8%), Russia 8%, Syria 7%,
Lebanon 5%, US 2% (2000); Turkish
Cypriot area: Turkey 51%, UK 31%,
other EU 16.5% (1999)
Imports: Greek Cypriot area: $3.5 billion
(f.o.b., 2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot
area: $424.9 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities: Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods,
petroleum and lubricants, food and
feed grains, machinery; Turkish
Cypriot area: food, minerals,
chemicals, machinery
Imports - partners: Greek Cypriot area: EU 52% (UK 11%,
Italy 9%, Greece 9%, Germany 7%), US
10% (2000); Turkish Cypriot area:
Turkey 59%, UK 13%, other EU 13%
(1999)
Debt - external: Greek Cypriot area: $NA; Turkish
Cypriot area: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: Greek Cypriot area - $17 million
(1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $700
million from Turkey in grants and
loans (1990-97) which are usually
forgiven
Currency: Greek Cypriot area: Cypriot pound
(CYP); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish
lira (TRL)
Currency code: CYP; TRL
Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per US dollar -
0.6518 (January 2002), 0.6427
(2001), 0.6208 (2000), 0.5423
(1999), 0.5170 (1998), 0.5135
(1997); Turkish liras per US dollar
- 1,370,629 (January 2002),
1,223,140 (2001), 625,219 (2000),
418,783 (1999), 260,724 (1998),
151,865 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Cyprus
---------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: Greek Cypriot area: 405,000 (1998);
Turkish Cypriot area: 83,162 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: Greek Cypriot area: 68,000 (1998);
Turkish Cypriot area: 70,000 (1999)
Telephone system: general assessment: excellent in
both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot areas
domestic: open wire, fiber-optic
cable, and microwave radio relay
international: tropospheric scatter;
3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic
submarine cables; satellite earth
stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2
Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1
Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: Greek Cypriot area: AM 7, FM 60,
shortwave 1 (1998); Turkish Cypriot
area: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1
(1998)
Radios: Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997);
Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450 (1994)
Television broadcast stations: Greek Cypriot area: 4 (plus 225 low-
power repeaters) (September 1995);
Turkish Cypriot area: 4 (plus 5
repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions: Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997);
Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300 (1994)
Internet country code: .cy
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (2000)
Internet users: 120,000 (2001)
Transportation Cyprus
---------------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: Greek Cypriot area: 10,663 km
(1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area:
2,350 km (1996 est.)
paved: Greek Cypriot area: 6,249 km
(1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area:
1,370 km (1996 est.)
unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,414
km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot
area: 980 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca,
Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos
Merchant marine: total: 1,254 ships (1,000 GRT or
over) totaling 22,802,712 GRT/
36,337,768 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned
ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Austria 12, Belgium 2,
Bulgaria 2, Canada 3, Chile 2, China
16, Croatia 2, Cuba 11, Finland 1,
Germany 229, Greece 607, Guam 1,
Hong Kong 6, India 6, Iran 1,
Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 1, Japan
26, Latvia 14, Lebanon 1, Lithuania
2, Mexico 1, Monaco 10, Netherlands
30, Norway 23, Panama 1, Philippines
2, Poland 19, Portugal 2, Russia 57,
Singapore 2, Slovenia 2, South Korea
4, Spain 7, Sudan 2, Sweden 6,
Switzerland 4, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1,
United Arab Emirates 13, United
Kingdom 6, United States 4, Vietnam
1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk
438, cargo 378, chemical tanker 24,
combination bulk 31, combination
ore/oil 2, container 133, liquefied
gas 4, passenger 7, passenger/cargo
1, petroleum tanker 131,
refrigerated cargo 46, roll on/roll
off 41, short-sea passenger 10,
specialized tanker 3, vehicle
carrier 3
Airports: 15 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2001)
914 to 1,523 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2001)
Heliports: 7 (2001)
Military Cyprus
---------------
Military branches: Greek area: Greek Cypriot National
Guard (GCNG; including air and naval
elements), Greek Cypriot Police
Turkish area: Turkish Cypriot
Security Force (GKK)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 200,071 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 137,322 (2002 est.)
service:
Military manpower - reaching males: 6,616 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $370 million (FY00)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 4.2% (FY00)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Cyprus
---------------------------
Disputes - international: reunification talks - the first
since 1974 hostilities divided the
island into two de facto autonomous
areas, a Greek Cypriot area
controlled by the internationally
recognized Cypriot Government (59%
of the island's land area) and a
Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the
island), that are separated by a UN
buffer zone (4% of the island) -
have recommenced; there are two UK
sovereign base areas mostly within
the Greek-Cypriot portion of the
island
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
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