GOVERNMENT

Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided de facto into the government-controlled two-thirds of the island and the Turkish Cypriot one-third. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus has continued as the internationally recognized authority; in practice, its authority extends only to the government-controlled areas.

The 1960 Cypriot constitution provided for a presidential system of government with independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as a complex system of checks and balances, including a weighted power-sharing ratio designed to protect the interests of the Turkish Cypriots. The executive, for example, was headed by a Greek Cypriot president and a Turkish Cypriot vice president, elected by their respective communities for 5-year terms, and each possessing a right of veto over certain types of legislation and executive decisions. The Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus retains most elements of the presidential system of government expressed in the constitution, although it has cited the Turkish Cypriots' "withdrawal from government" and the "law of necessity" to enact structural changes that allow "effective governance."

Following the 1974 hostilities, the Turkish Cypriots set up their own institutions in the area they administered with an elected "president" and a "prime minister" responsible to the National Assembly exercising joint executive powers. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriots declared an independent "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"). The United States does not recognize the "TRNC," nor does any country other than Turkey.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Historically, none of the Greek Cypriot parties has been able to elect a president by itself or dominate the 56-seat House of Representatives. The 165,000 Greek Cypriot refugees from the area now administered by Turkish Cypriots are a potent political force, along with the independent Orthodox Church of Cyprus, which has some influence in secular as well as religious matters. In February 2008, Demetris Christofias defeated incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos and challenger Ioannis Kassoulides in two rounds of voting to become the first AKEL president of the Republic of Cyprus. All major parties hold seats in the National Council, the top advisory board to the president on Cyprus settlement issues.

Parliamentary elections last took place in May 2006. AKEL emerged the leading party, garnering 31% of votes cast, with DISY a close second with 30%; each is represented in parliament by 18 MPs. Other parties represented in parliament include DIKO (11 seats), EDEK (5), EUROKO (3) and the Greens (1).

Mehmet Ali Talat was elected in April 2005 as leader of the Turkish Cypriot community (as the so-called "President of the TRNC"), replacing long-time nationalist leader Rauf Denktash. Talat's political allies in the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) suffered defeat in “parliamentary” elections contested on April 19, 2009 with the formerly opposition National Unity Party (UBP), led by long-time former “Prime Minister” Dervish Eroglu, obtaining 44% of the popular vote and 26 of 50 seats in the "TRNC National Assembly”. UBP announced its “governance” program on May 11 and won an initial confidence vote on May 18, 2009.

Attempts To Achieve a Cyprus Settlement
The first UN-sponsored negotiations to develop institutional arrangements acceptable to both communities began in 1968; several sets of negotiations and other initiatives followed. In general, Turkish Cypriots focus on bizonality, security guarantees, and political equality between the two communities, envisioning a weak federation with strong powers reserved for the two constituent states. Greek Cypriots, on the other hand, emphasize the rights of movement, property, settlement, and the return of territory, and envision a stronger, more integrated federal government. Numerous UN-sponsored negotiation rounds have faltered owing to the sides’ differing aims and wants, the last major failure being the 2004 “Annan Plan,” which in simultaneous referenda in the two communities won the support of two-thirds of Turkish Cypriots but only one-fourth of Greek Cypriots.

For two years following the Annan Plan defeat, the island saw little progress toward reunification until a visiting high-level UN official in July 2006 secured the sides’ support for a framework agreement aimed at restarting settlement discussions. The sides tackled procedural issues over the ensuing 18 months but mainly avoided substance. A breakthrough of sorts occurred with the February 2008 election of Republic of Cyprus President Demetris Christofias, who immediately pledged to renew settlement efforts under UN auspices. Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met four times between March and July 2008, with their chief negotiators and technical experts supporting their efforts via more frequent gatherings. On July 25, the two leaders announced the decision to proceed to full-fledged negotiations, which began on September 3.

In the next eight months, Christofias and Talat met nearly 30 times, tackling the core negotiation issues of governance and power sharing, property, the economy, and EU matters. Topics still awaiting a first read include security and guarantees, territorial arrangements, and possibly migration issues. The UN Secretary General, in his May 2009 report to the Security Council, congratulated the sides for steady progress but called for an increase in the pace of the talks.

Bi-Communal Contact, Crossing Procedures
In April 2003, then-leader of the Turkish Cypriots Denktash relaxed many restrictions on individuals crossing between the two communities leading to relatively unimpeded bi-communal contact for the first time since 1974. Since the relaxation, there have been nearly 12,000,000 buffer zone crossings in both directions. Under the current regulations, Greek Cypriots must present identity documents to cross to the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, something many are reluctant to do. They are able to drive their personal vehicles in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, provided they first obtain a policy from a Turkish Cypriot insurance provider. Turkish Cypriots are permitted to cross into the government-controlled area upon presentation of a Turkish Cypriot ID card or other identity documentation acceptable to Republic of Cyprus authorities. They must also obtain car insurance from an insurer in the government-controlled area to drive their personal vehicles there.

Until recently, visitors choosing to arrive at non-designated airports and seaports in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots were not allowed to cross the United Nations-patrolled "green line" to the government-controlled area. In June of 2004, however, Cypriot authorities implemented new EU-related crossing regulations that allowed Americans (and citizens of most other countries) to cross freely regardless of their port of entry into Cyprus. Visitors arriving in the government-controlled area are normally able to cross the green line without hindrance, although on occasion difficulties are encountered at both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot checkpoints. The Government of Cyprus considers ports in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots to be illegal. Policy and procedures regarding such travel are subject to change. More information on current procedures may be obtained at the UN "Buffer Zone" Ledra Palace checkpoint in Nicosia or by referral to the U.S. consular information sheet on Cyprus at: http://www.travel.state.gov/.

Principal Government Officials
President of the Republic--Demetris Christofias
Foreign Minister--Markos Kyprianou
Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism--Antonis Paschalades
Minister of Finance--Charilaos Stavrakis
Minister of Interior--Neoclis Sylikiotis
Minister of Defense--Costas Papacostas
Minister of Communications and Works--Maria Nicos Nicolaides
Minister of Justice and Public Order--Kypros Chrysostomides
Minister of Health--Christos Patsalides
Ambassador to the United States--Andreas Kakouris
Permanent Representative to the United Nations--Minas Hadjimichael

Cyprus maintains an embassy in the United States at 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-462-5772) and a Consulate General in New York City. Cyprus also maintains a trade center at 13 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016 (tel. 212-686-6016). Turkish Cypriots maintain offices in Washington (tel. 202-887-6198) and at the Republic of Turkey's Mission to the United Nations.

---

Copyright © 1996-2009 Travel Document Systems, Inc. ®