Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 155 Republic of Cyprus In 1974 Turkish troops invaded and occupied the northern 36 per cent of the Republic of Cyprus. This area was later declared independent. The secession has not been recognised internationally, except by Turkey. The UN and Commonwealth have for many years protested about the occupation and tried to resolve the problem by negotiation. Due to this division of the Republic of Cyprus, aggregated information is not always available. Economic and social data given here generally covers the government-controlled areas only, although legally and constitutionally the Republic of Cyprus includes the occupied north. KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1961 Population: 1,141,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 0.9% p.a. 1990–2013 UN HDI 2014: World ranking 32 Official languages: Greek, Turkish Time: GMT plus 2–3 hrs Currency: Euro (€) Geography Area: 9,251 sq km Coastline: 648 km Capital: Nicosia Cyprus is an island situated in the eastern Mediterranean. Its closest mainland neighbours are Turkey to the north, and Syria and Lebanon to the east. Constitution Status: Republic with executive President Legislature: House of Representatives Independence: 16 August 1960 The Republic of Cyprus is a democracy with a directly elected executive President, serving a five-year term. The 1960 constitution has provisions to ensure a balance of power between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. The legislature, the House of Representatives, was to be elected by universal suffrage, with 35 Greek and 15 Turkish seats, and a term of no longer than five years. Under the amendment of 1985, the legislature was to comprise 80 seats (56 Greek and 24 Turkish). In 1996 a system of proportional representation was introduced. The seats reserved for Turkish Cypriots have been unoccupied since 1963. The executive was to comprise a Greek President, a Turkish Vice- President and a council of ministers, with seven Greek and three Turkish members. Ministers may not be members of parliament. The President is to be elected by absolute majority. If this is not achieved, a second election between the two top candidates is to be held. All Cypriots must declare themselves either to be Cypriot Greeks or Cypriot Turks (the Armenian, Maronite and Latin communities declared themselves Greek for this purpose). The ratio of Greek to Turk in the army must be 6:4, and 7:3 in the police, judiciary and civil service. Nicosia, Paphos, Larnaca, Limassol and Famagusta each have separate Greek and Turkish municipal authorities. Equal status was granted to the Greek and Turkish languages. Judicial system Supreme court: Supreme Court of Cyprus Ministry: Justice and Public Order The justice system is broadly based on English common law and is presided over by the Supreme Court, which in 1964 succeeded the Supreme Constitutional Court and the High Court. The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal and rules on constitutional issues. The other organs of justice include the District Court, Assize Court, Family Court, Rent Control Tribunal, Military Court and Industrial Disputes Tribunal. The District Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine at the first instance all civil actions, except those that come under the Family Court, Rent Control Tribunal and Industrial Disputes Tribunal; the Assize Court tries the most serious criminal cases. Other criminal cases appear before district courts. The district courts are located in Paralimni, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia and Paphos, and the assize courts in Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia and Paphos. The district courts comprise a single judge and assize courts a panel of three judges.
CEP template 2012
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