--- title: Cyprus — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 4 description: Wikipedia's «Cyprus», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Cyprus, officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, located off the coast of the Levant mainland in West Asia. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/page/4/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Cyprus # Cyprus · page 4 From Wikipedia, [«Cyprus»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/page/3/) **4** [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/page/6/) The Government has invested heavily in the creation of water desalination plants which have supplied almost 50 per cent of domestic water since 2001.[245](../../245/ "tree and pragmatics") Efforts have also been made to raise public awareness of the situation and to encourage domestic water users to take more responsibility for the conservation of this increasingly scarce commodity.[\[155\]](../../page/6/#ref-155 "note 155")[246](../../246/ "tree and pragmatics") Turkey has built a water pipeline under the Mediterranean Sea from [Anamur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anamur) on its southern coast to the northern coast of Cyprus, to supply Northern Cyprus with potable and irrigation water (see [Northern Cyprus Water Supply Project](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cyprus_Water_Supply_Project)).[247](../../247/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Flora and fauna Main article: [Cyprus Mediterranean forests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_Mediterranean_forests) See also: [List of endemic plants of Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_endemic_plants_of_Cyprus) Cyprus is home to a number of [endemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemism) species, including the [Cypriot mouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypriot_mouse), the [golden oak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_alnifolia) and the [Cyprus cedar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedrus_brevifolia).[248](../../248/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Government and politics Main article: [Politics of Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Cyprus) Cyprus is a [presidential republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_republic).[249](../../249/ "tree and pragmatics") The head of state and of the government is elected by a process of [universal suffrage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_suffrage) for a five-year term.[250](../../250/ "tree and pragmatics") Executive power is exercised by the government with legislative power vested in the [House of Representatives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_%28Cyprus%29) whilst the Judiciary is independent of both the executive and the legislature.[251](../../251/ "tree and pragmatics") The 1960 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.[252](../../252/ "tree and pragmatics") The executive was led by a Greek Cypriot president and a Turkish Cypriot vice-president elected by their respective communities for five-year terms and each possessing a right of veto over certain types of legislation and executive decisions.[253](../../253/ "tree and pragmatics") Legislative power rested on the House of Representatives who were also elected on the basis of separate voters' rolls.[254](../../254/ "tree and pragmatics") Since 1965, following clashes between the two communities, the [Turkish Cypriot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Cypriot) seats in the House have remained vacant.[255](../../255/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1974 Cyprus was divided de facto when the Turkish army occupied the northern third of the island.[256](../../256/ "tree and pragmatics") The Turkish Cypriots subsequently declared independence in 1983 as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus but were recognised only by Turkey.[257](../../257/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1985 the TRNC adopted a constitution and held its first elections.[258](../../258/ "tree and pragmatics") The United Nations recognises the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus over the entire island of Cyprus.[259](../../259/ "tree and pragmatics") As of 2007, the [House of Representatives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_%28Cyprus%29) had 56 members elected for a five-year term by [proportional representation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proportional_representation), and three observer members representing the [Armenian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenians_in_Cyprus), [Latin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism_in_Cyprus) and [Maronite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maronites_in_Cyprus) minorities.[260](../../260/ "tree and pragmatics") Twenty-four seats were allocated to the [Turkish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_people) community but have remained vacant since 1964.[261](../../261/ "tree and pragmatics") The political environment was dominated by the communist [AKEL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Party_of_Working_People), the liberal conservative [Democratic Rally](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Rally), the [centrist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrism)[\[156\]](../../page/6/#ref-156 "note 156") [Democratic Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_%28Cyprus%29), and the [social-democratic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_democracy) [EDEK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_for_Social_Democracy).[262](../../262/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2008, [Dimitris Christofias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimitris_Christofias) became the country's first Communist head of state.[263](../../263/ "tree and pragmatics") Due to his involvement in the [2012–2013 Cypriot financial crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012–2013_Cypriot_financial_crisis), Christofias did not run for re-election in 2013.[264](../../264/ "tree and pragmatics") The Presidential election in 2013 resulted in [Democratic Rally](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Rally) candidate [Nicos Anastasiades](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicos_Anastasiades) winning 57.48% of the vote.[265](../../265/ "tree and pragmatics") As a result, Anastasiades was sworn in on 28 February 2013.[266](../../266/ "tree and pragmatics") Anastasiades was re-elected with 56% of the vote in the [2018 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypriot_presidential_election,_2018).[\[157\]](../../page/6/#ref-157 "note 157")[\[158\]](../../page/6/#ref-158 "note 158")[267](../../267/ "tree and pragmatics") On 28 February 2023, [Nikos Christodoulides](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikos_Christodoulides), the winner of the 2023 presidential [election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Cypriot_presidential_election) run-off, was sworn in as the eighth president of the Republic of Cyprus.[\[159\]](../../page/6/#ref-159 "note 159")[268](../../268/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Administrative divisions Main article: [Districts of Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Districts_of_Cyprus), [List of cities, towns and villages in Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities,_towns_and_villages_in_Cyprus) The Republic of Cyprus is divided into six districts: [Nicosia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicosia_District), [Famagusta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famagusta_District), [Kyrenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrenia_District), [Larnaca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larnaca_District), [Limassol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limassol_District) and [Paphos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paphos_District).[\[160\]](../../page/6/#ref-160 "note 160")[269](../../269/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Exclaves and enclaves Cyprus has four [exclaves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclave), all in territory that belongs to the [British Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akrotiri_and_Dhekelia).[270](../../270/ "tree and pragmatics") The first two are the villages of [Ormidhia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ormidhia) and [Xylotymvou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylotymvou).[271](../../271/ "tree and pragmatics") The third is the [Dhekelia Power Station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhekelia_Power_Station), which is divided by a British road into two parts.[272](../../272/ "tree and pragmatics") The northern part is the [EAC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_Authority_of_Cyprus) refugee settlement.[273](../../273/ "tree and pragmatics") The southern part, even though located by the sea, is also an exclave because it has no [territorial waters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_waters) of its own, those being UK waters.[\[161\]](../../page/6/#ref-161 "note 161")[274](../../274/ "tree and pragmatics") The [UN buffer zone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Buffer_Zone_in_Cyprus) runs up against Dhekelia and picks up again from its east side off [Ayios Nikolaos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayios_Nikolaos,_SBA) and is connected to the rest of Dhekelia by a thin land corridor.[275](../../275/ "tree and pragmatics") In that sense the buffer zone turns the [Paralimni](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralimni) area on the southeast corner of the island into a de facto, though not [de jure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_jure), exclave.[276](../../276/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Foreign relations Main article: [Foreign relations of Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Cyprus) The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the following international groups: [Australia Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Group), [CN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations), [CE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Europe), [CFSP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CFSP), [EBRD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EBRD), [EIB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Investment_Bank), [EU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EU), [FAO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAO), [IAEA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAEA), [IBRD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBRD), [ICAO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICAO), [ICC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Chamber_of_Commerce), [ICCt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Court), [ITUC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Trade_Union_Confederation), [IDA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Development_Association), [IFAD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IFAD), [IFC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Finance_Corporation), [IHO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IHO), [ILO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Labour_Organization), [IMF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund), [IMO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Meteorological_Organization), [Interpol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpol), [IOC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOC), [IOM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Organization_for_Migration), [IPU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-Parliamentary_Union), [ITU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU), [MIGA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIGA), [NAM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Aligned_Movement), [NSG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Suppliers_Group), [OPCW](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPCW), [OSCE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_for_Security_and_Co-operation_in_Europe), [PCA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_Court_of_Arbitration), UN, [UNCTAD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNCTAD), [UNESCO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO), [UNHCR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNHCR), [UNIDO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Industrial_Development_Organization), [UPU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPU), [WCL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Confederation_of_Labour), [WCO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Customs_Organization), [WFTU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Federation_of_Trade_Unions), [WHO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHO), [WIPO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIPO), [WMO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WMO), [WToO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WToO), [WTO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organization).[\[3\]](../../page/6/#ref-3 "note 3")[\[162\]](../../page/6/#ref-162 "note 162")[277](../../277/ "tree and pragmatics") Cyprus is the 88th most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024 [Global Peace Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Peace_Index).[\[163\]](../../page/6/#ref-163 "note 163")[278](../../278/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Military Main article: [Cypriot National Guard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypriot_National_Guard) The [Cypriot National Guard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypriot_National_Guard) is the main military institution of the Republic of Cyprus.[279](../../279/ "tree and pragmatics") It is a [combined arms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_arms) force, with land, air and naval elements.[280](../../280/ "tree and pragmatics") Historically all male citizens were required to spend 24 months serving in the National Guard after their 17th birthday, but in 2016 this period of compulsory service was reduced to 14 months.[\[164\]](../../page/6/#ref-164 "note 164")[281](../../281/ "tree and pragmatics") Annually, approximately 10,000 persons are trained in recruit centres.[282](../../282/ "tree and pragmatics") Depending on their awarded speciality the conscript recruits are then transferred to speciality training camps or to operational units.[283](../../283/ "tree and pragmatics") While until 2016 the armed forces were mainly conscript based, since then a large professional enlisted institution has been adopted (ΣΥΟΠ), which combined with the reduction of conscript service produces an approximate 3:1 ratio between conscript and professional enlisted.[284](../../284/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Law, justice and human rights Main article: [Cyprus Police](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_Police), [Human rights in Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Cyprus) The [Cyprus Police](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_Police) (Greek: Αστυνομία Κύπρου, Kıbrıs Polisi) is the only National Police Service of the Republic of Cyprus and is under the Ministry of Justice and Public Order since 1993.[\[165\]](../../page/6/#ref-165 "note 165")[285](../../285/ "tree and pragmatics") In "[Freedom in the World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_in_the_World) 2026", the U.S.-based NGO [Freedom House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_House) rated Cyprus as "free".[\[166\]](../../page/6/#ref-166 "note 166")[286](../../286/ "tree and pragmatics") In January 2011, the Report of the Office of the [United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_High_Commissioner_for_Human_Rights) on the question of Human Rights in Cyprus noted that the ongoing division of Cyprus continues to affect human rights throughout the island "including freedom of movement, human rights pertaining to the question of missing persons, discrimination, the right to life, freedom of religion, and economic, social and cultural rights".[\[167\]](../../page/6/#ref-167 "note 167")[287](../../287/ "tree and pragmatics") The constant focus on the division of the island can sometimes mask other human rights issues.[\[168\]](../../page/6/#ref-168 "note 168")[288](../../288/ "tree and pragmatics") Prostitution is rife, and the island has been criticised for its role in the sex trade as one of the main routes of [human trafficking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking) from Eastern Europe.[\[169\]](../../page/6/#ref-169 "note 169")[\[170\]](../../page/6/#ref-170 "note 170")[289](../../289/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2014, Turkey was ordered by the [European Court of Human Rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Court_of_Human_Rights) to pay well over $100m in compensation to Cyprus for the invasion;[\[171\]](../../page/6/#ref-171 "note 171") [Ankara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankara) [corpus](../../../Ankara/ "in our corpus") announced that it would ignore the judgment.[\[172\]](../../page/6/#ref-172 "note 172")[290](../../290/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2014, a group of Cypriot refugees and European parliamentarian [Costas Mavrides](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costas_Mavrides) filed a complaint to the [International Court of Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Court_of_Justice), accusing Turkey of violating the [Geneva Conventions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Conventions) by directly or indirectly transferring [its civilian population](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_settlers_in_Northern_Cyprus) into occupied territory.[\[173\]](../../page/6/#ref-173 "note 173")[291](../../291/ "tree and pragmatics") Other violations of the Geneva and the Hague Conventions—both ratified by Turkey—amount to what archaeologist [Sophocles Hadjisavvas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophocles_Hadjisavvas) called "the organised destruction of Greek and Christian heritage in the north".[\[174\]](../../page/6/#ref-174 "note 174")[292](../../292/ "tree and pragmatics") These violations include looting of cultural treasures, deliberate destruction of churches, neglect of works of art, and altering the names of important historical sites, which was condemned by the [International Council on Monuments and Sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Council_on_Monuments_and_Sites).[293](../../293/ "tree and pragmatics") Hadjisavvas has asserted that these actions are motivated by a Turkish policy of erasing the Greek presence in Northern Cyprus within a framework of ethnic cleansing.[294](../../294/ "tree and pragmatics") But some perpetrators are just motivated by greed and are seeking profit.[\[174\]](../../page/6/#ref-174 "note 174")[295](../../295/ "tree and pragmatics") Art law expert Alessandro Chechi has classified the connection of cultural heritage destruction to ethnic cleansing as the "Greek Cypriot viewpoint", which he reports as having been dismissed by two [PACE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_Assembly_of_the_Council_of_Europe) reports.[296](../../296/ "tree and pragmatics") Chechi asserts joint Greek and Turkish Cypriot responsibility for the destruction of cultural heritage in Cyprus, noting the destruction of Turkish Cypriot heritage in the hands of Greek Cypriot extremists.[\[175\]](../../page/6/#ref-175 "note 175")[297](../../297/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Economy Main article: [Economy of Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Cyprus) In the early 21st century, Cyprus boasted a prosperous service-based economy that made it the wealthiest of the ten countries that joined the European Union in 2004.[\[176\]](../../page/6/#ref-176 "note 176")[298](../../298/ "tree and pragmatics") However, the Cypriot economy was later damaged by the [2008 financial crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_financial_crisis) and the [Euro area crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_area_crisis).[299](../../299/ "tree and pragmatics") In June 2012, the Cypriot government announced it would need €1.8 billion in foreign aid to support the [Cyprus Popular Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_Popular_Bank), and this was followed by [Fitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitch_Group) downgrading Cyprus's credit rating to [junk status](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_status).[\[177\]](../../page/6/#ref-177 "note 177")[300](../../300/ "tree and pragmatics") Fitch stated Cyprus would need an additional €4 billion to support its banks and the downgrade was mainly due to the exposure of [Bank of Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_Cyprus), [Cyprus Popular Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_Popular_Bank), and [Hellenic Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_Bank), Cyprus's three largest banks, to the [Greek government-debt crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_government-debt_crisis).[\[177\]](../../page/6/#ref-177 "note 177")[301](../../301/ "tree and pragmatics") The [2012–2013 Cypriot financial crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012–2013_Cypriot_financial_crisis) led to an agreement with the [Eurogroup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurogroup) in March 2013 to split Cyprus Popular Bank, into a "bad" bank which would be wound down over time and a "good" bank which would be absorbed by the Bank of Cyprus.[302](../../302/ "tree and pragmatics") In return for a €10 billion [bailout](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailout) from the [European Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Commission), the [European Central Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Central_Bank) and the [International Monetary Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund), often referred to as the "troika", the Cypriot government was required to impose a significant [haircut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haircut_%28finance%29) on [uninsured deposits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deposit_insurance), a large proportion of which were held by wealthy [Russians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russians) who used Cyprus as a [tax haven](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_haven).[303](../../303/ "tree and pragmatics") Insured deposits of €100,000 or less were not affected.[\[178\]](../../page/6/#ref-178 "note 178")[\[179\]](../../page/6/#ref-179 "note 179")[\[180\]](../../page/6/#ref-180 "note 180")[304](../../304/ "tree and pragmatics") Cyprus made a staggering economic recovery in the 2010s,[\[181\]](../../page/6/#ref-181 "note 181") and according to the 2023 International Monetary Fund estimates, Cyprus's [per capita GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita) at [$](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_dollar)54,611 is the highest in [Southern Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Europe), though slightly below the European Union average.[\[182\]](../../page/6/#ref-182 "note 182")[305](../../305/ "tree and pragmatics") Tourism, financial services and shipping are significant parts of the economy, and Cyprus has been sought as a base for several offshore businesses due its low tax rates and [ease of doing business](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ease_of_doing_business_index).[306](../../306/ "tree and pragmatics") Robust growth was achieved in the 1980s and 1990s, due to the focus placed by Cypriot governments on meeting the criteria for admission to the European Union.[\[183\]](../../page/6/#ref-183 "note 183")[307](../../307/ "tree and pragmatics") The Cypriot government adopted the euro as the national currency on 1 January 2008, replacing the [Cypriot pound](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypriot_pound).[\[176\]](../../page/6/#ref-176 "note 176")[308](../../308/ "tree and pragmatics") Cyprus is the last EU member fully isolated from energy interconnections and it is expected that it will be connected to European network via the [EuroAsia Interconnector](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroAsia_Interconnector), a 2000 MW [high-voltage direct current](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-voltage_direct_current) [undersea power cable](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_power_cable).[\[184\]](../../page/6/#ref-184 "note 184")[309](../../309/ "tree and pragmatics") [EuroAsia Interconnector](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroAsia_Interconnector) will connect Greek, Cypriot, and Israeli power grids.[310](../../310/ "tree and pragmatics") It is a leading Project of Common Interest of the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union) and also priority Electricity Highway Interconnector Project.[\[185\]](../../page/6/#ref-185 "note 185")[\[186\]](../../page/6/#ref-186 "note 186")[311](../../311/ "tree and pragmatics") In recent years significant quantities of offshore natural gas have been discovered in the area known as [Aphrodite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_12) (at the exploratory drilling block 12) in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone ([EEZ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EEZ)),[\[187\]](../../page/6/#ref-187 "note 187") about 175 km south of Limassol at 33°5'40″N and 32°59'0″E.[\[188\]](../../page/6/#ref-188 "note 188") However, Turkey's offshore drilling companies have accessed both natural gas and oil resources since 2013.[\[189\]](../../page/6/#ref-189 "note 189")[312](../../312/ "tree and pragmatics") Cyprus demarcated its maritime border with Egypt in 2003, with Lebanon in 2007,[\[190\]](../../page/6/#ref-190 "note 190") and with Israel in 2010.[\[191\]](../../page/6/#ref-191 "note 191")[313](../../313/ "tree and pragmatics") In August 2011, the US-based firm [Noble Energy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Energy) entered into a production-sharing agreement with the Cypriot government regarding the block's commercial development.[\[192\]](../../page/6/#ref-192 "note 192")[314](../../314/ "tree and pragmatics") Turkey, which does not recognise the border agreements of Cyprus with its neighbours,[\[193\]](../../page/6/#ref-193 "note 193") threatened to mobilise its naval forces if Cyprus proceeded with plans to begin drilling at Block 12.[\[194\]](../../page/6/#ref-194 "note 194")[315](../../315/ "tree and pragmatics") Cyprus's drilling efforts have the support of the US, EU, and UN, and on 19 September 2011 drilling in Block 12 began without any incidents being reported.[\[195\]](../../page/6/#ref-195 "note 195")[316](../../316/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Infrastructure Main article: [Transport in Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Cyprus), [Telecommunications in Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Cyprus) Cyprus is one of only three EU nations in which vehicles drive on the [left-hand side of the road](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-_and_left-hand_traffic), a remnant of British rule.[317](../../317/ "tree and pragmatics") [A series of motorways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roads_and_motorways_in_Cyprus) runs along the coast from [Paphos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paphos) to [Ayia Napa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayia_Napa), with two motorways running inland to Nicosia, one from Limassol and one from [Larnaca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larnaca).[318](../../318/ "tree and pragmatics") Per capita private car ownership is the 29th-highest in the world.[\[196\]](../../page/6/#ref-196 "note 196")[319](../../319/ "tree and pragmatics") There were approximately 344,000 privately owned vehicles, and a total of 517,000 registered motor vehicles in the Republic of Cyprus in 2006.[\[197\]](../../page/6/#ref-197 "note 197")[320](../../320/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2006, plans were announced to improve and expand bus services and other public transport throughout Cyprus, with the financial backing of the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union) Development Bank.[321](../../321/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2010 the new bus network was implemented.[\[198\]](../../page/6/#ref-198 "note 198")[322](../../322/ "tree and pragmatics") Cyprus has two international airports in the government-controlled areas, the busier one being in [Larnaca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larnaca_International_Airport) and the other in [Paphos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paphos_International_Airport).[\[199\]](../../page/6/#ref-199 "note 199")[323](../../323/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Ercan International Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ercan_International_Airport) is the only active one in the non-government-controlled areas, but all international flights there must have a stopover in Turkey.[\[200\]](../../page/6/#ref-200 "note 200")[324](../../324/ "tree and pragmatics") The main [harbours](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbour) of the island are [Limassol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limassol_Port) and [Larnaca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larnaca), which serve cargo, passenger and [cruise ships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruise_ship).[325](../../325/ "tree and pragmatics") Cyprus has no active railroads, but in recent years there is a call to rebuild rail line for the first time in 70 years.[326](../../326/ "tree and pragmatics") The call was made by the European rail supply industry association (Unife) along with Cyprus Railways Consortium.[\[201\]](../../page/6/#ref-201 "note 201")[\[202\]](../../page/6/#ref-202 "note 202")[327](../../327/ "tree and pragmatics") [Cyta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CYTA), the [state-owned](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_ownership) telecommunications company, manages most telecommunications and Internet connections on the island.[328](../../328/ "tree and pragmatics") However, following deregulation of the sector, a few private telecommunications companies emerged, including [epic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaco_Telecom), [Cablenet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cablenet), [OTEnet Telecom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OTEnet_Telecom), [Omega Telecom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega_Telecom) and [PrimeTel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PrimeTel).[329](../../329/ "tree and pragmatics") In the non-government-controlled areas of Cyprus, two different companies administer the mobile phone network: [Turkcell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkcell) and [KKTC Telsim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KKTC_Telsim).[330](../../330/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/page/3/) **4** [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/page/6/) - ← previous: [page 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/page/3/) - next →: [page 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Cyprus/page/5/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)