| Cyprus is an Independent Sovereign Republic with a Presidential
System, elected by universal suffrage for a 5 year term of office.
The President exercises power through a Council of Ministers appointed
by him.
Cyprus is a member of the United Nations and its agencies. It is
also a member of the Council of Europe and gained full membership
to the European Union in May 2004.
The legal system in Cyprus is based on Anglo-Saxon laws and legislations.
The Cyprus Problem
As is common knowledge, Cyprus has been divided since the invasion
of Turkish troops in July 1974, resulting 35% of Greek Cypriots
(142,000) being forcibly expelled from their homes, becoming refugees
in their own country. They have since been deprived of their rights
to return to their homes and there are still 1,500 Greek Cypriots
missing.
In November 1983 Turkish Cypriot leadership declared Northern Cyprus
as an independent state with Turkish support. The International
Community, through United Nations Security Council Resolutions have
condemned this action as invalid and illegal. With the exception
of Turkey, no other country in the world recognises this illegal
state.
Negotiations for a solution of the Cyprus problem have been underway
intermittently since 1975 with the support of the United Nations.
More recently, Cypriots have been allowed to cross the border under
curfew restrictions.
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