Cyprus Country Report

Cyprus is a developed Eurasian island state in the Eastern Mediterranean located south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon. Despite being a singular territorial entity under international law, the island has been de facto divided into the Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the north since 1974 when Turkey responded to an Athens-sponsored military coup by invading and occupying the north of the island. The Republic of Cyprus, which has de jure sovereignty over the entire island but in practice controls only the southern two-thirds of the island, is a presidential republic dominated by Greek Cypriots and has been a fully-fledged member of the European Union since 2004. The TRNC, covering the northern third, is controlled by Turkish Cypriots and is not recognized as a sovereign state by the international community, except for Turkey, which maintains a military presence in the territory. The UN drawn ’Green Line’ dividing the two regions runs roughly from the west to the east across the middle off the island, going south east around the east side of Nicosia, placing the outskirts of the city, from the north west to the east, within the TRNC borders. The UN has sponsored several reunification plans throughout recent years which have been largely unsuccessful. Public demonstrations do occur and may turn violent, especially around the UN Buffer Zone between the Greek and Turkish sides. Petty street crime, fraud and violent crime can affect travelers. The south enjoys greater levels of economic development than the north, and its economy is dominated by financial services and tourism, allowing for the maintenance of well-developed and efficient infrastructure throughout the country including power generation, transportation, and telecommunications. The TRNC, however, is comparatively underdeveloped and does not enjoy the same high standards of infrastructure.

Cyprus is unlikely to experience any conflict in the foreseeable future. Criminal activity generates the most direct threat to travelers in Cyprus and the TRNC. Cyprus is not considered to be at risk of terrorism, although there have been sporadic incidents of low-level bombings on the island and there have been postulations over the presence of terrorist elements. Militants allegedly linked to Middle Eastern groups have been detained on the island.

There are no safety concerns over air travel.

There are no safety concerns over road travel.

Cyprus' ports plan to become more efficient and competitive. There are safety concerns over using ferries as transport.

Utilities in Cyprus are good.

Nearly half of Cypriot businesses have experienced some kind of cyber attack in the past 12 months. Its defenses against such an attack are weak.

Cyprus rests in a seismically active zone and is susceptible to earthquakes. Violent storms can also occur on the island, hampering travel. Severe drought and hot conditions can result in wildfires, especially May-October. Unexploded ordnance and landmine contamination along the Green Line also pose a significant risk to travelers in the frontier region.

Travelers face few serious health risks while in Cyprus. Medical facilities are adequate in urban areas, although somewhat more developed in the south than in the north. Extreme medical cases may require evacuation.

Cyprus is a unitary multi-party presidential republic. The President is both head of state and head of government. The President and the Council of Ministers form the government and exercise executive power. The unicameral parliament, or the House of Representatives, exercises legislative power. Presidential and legislative elections take place once every five years. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is a unitary multi-party semi-presidential republic. The President is the head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The President, the Prime Minister, and the Council of Ministers form the government and exercise executive power. The unicameral parliament, or the Assembly of the Republic, exercises legislative power. Presidential and parliamentary elections take place once every five years. However, snap parliamentary elections have been called several times in response to political developments. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Coalitions featuring a cross-section of political parties are typically required to form the government in both republics. Government collapses are rare in Cyprus but more common in the TRNC. State institutions are moderately competent and effective and provide reliable services across most of the country.