| Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, | | | | The Turkish Cypriot economy faces problems like |
| 113 km south of Turkey and 120 km west of the | | | | arranging foreign financing because it is only |
| Syrian coast. The metal "copper" in English stems from | | | | recognized by Turkey. Foreign firms are also hesitant |
| the Latin work Cyprus. Large deposits of copper are | | | | to invest there. It has one-fifth of the population and |
| found on the island. Geographically, Cyprus is in | | | | one-third of per capita GDP of the south. The |
| Western Asia. | | | | economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture and |
| Historically, Cyprus has been a bridgehead between | | | | government services, which together employs half of |
| Europe and Asia. It has interchanging periods of | | | | the work force. |
| Levantine, Anatolian and Greek influences. | | | | To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey |
| It was in 1960 that Cyprus gained independence from | | | | provides direct and indirect aid to tourism, education, |
| the United Kingdom. Still, U.K., Greece and Turkey | | | | industry etc. |
| retained limited rights to intervene in Cyprus' internal | | | | The Cypriots are among the most prosperous people |
| affairs. | | | | in the Mediterranean region. The island promotes its |
| The Republic of Cyprus is the government of the | | | | image as a "bridge" between East and West, its |
| island which is internationally recognized and controls | | | | educated English-speaking population, moderate local |
| the southern two-thirds of the island. Almost all foreign | | | | costs, good airline connections and telecommunications. |
| governments recognize the sovereignty of the | | | | Greek is predominantly spoken in the south and |
| Republic of Cyprus over all of Cyprus. | | | | Turkish in the north. Historically, Greek (its Cypriot |
| Turkish Cypriots, together with Turkey, oppose the | | | | dialect) was spoken by nearly 82% of the population |
| Republic's rule over Cyprus and call it the "Greek | | | | of Cyprus. Along with Greek and Turkish, English is |
| Authority of Southern Cyprus". They control the | | | | also widely used in Cyprus. |
| northern part of the island followed by a military | | | | The climate of Cyprus is temperate with hot and dry |
| invasion by Turkey in the year 1974. | | | | summers, and cool and rainy winters. |
| Since 1974, the Republic of Cyprus controls the | | | | Music in Cyprus has a variety of classical, folk and |
| southern two-thirds of the island and the | | | | popular genres. Folk music in Cyprus is similar to the |
| Turkish-Cypriot controls the northern one-third. In reality | | | | folk music of Greece and includes dances like sousta, |
| the governments' power extends only to the Greek | | | | syrtos, zeimbekikos, dachas, and the kartsilamdhes. |
| Cypriot controlled areas though it is an internationally | | | | As Cyprus was an important outpost of Christianity |
| recognized authority. | | | | and European civilization during the Crusades, a variety |
| Even economically, the island is divided into Cyprus | | | | of styles, including music from Armenia, France, |
| government areas and northern Turkish Cypriot | | | | Greece and Arabs, got merged with the island's own |
| administered areas. The Greek Cypriot economy is | | | | culture. |
| prosperous, but is highly susceptible to external shocks. | | | | Cyprus has retained its grandeur through the years of |
| There were erratic growth rates in 1990s which reflect | | | | turmoil and remains a great tourist destination in spite |
| the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourism, | | | | of political upheavals. It is a unique place to visit with a |
| caused by political instability and economic conditions in | | | | distinct history and culture. |
| Western Europe. | | | | |