Cyprus Government

The Government of Cyprus aligns itself with European positions within the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. Cyprus has long identified with the West in its cultural affinities and trade patterns, and maintains close relations with Greece. Since 1974, the foreign policy of the Government of Cyprus has sought the withdrawal of Turkish forces and the most favorable constitutional and territorial settlement possible. This campaign has been pursued primarily through international forums such as the United Nations. (See Political Conditions.) Turkey does not recognize the Government of Cyprus. ... [Read More]

Cyprus

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:   Since 1974, the Cypriot government has designated Larnaca and Paphos international airports, and the seaports of Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphos, as the only legal points of entry into and exit from Cyprus.  These ports are all in the government-controlled southern part of the island.  Entry or exit via any other air or seaport is considered an illegal act by the Government of Cyprus.  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 areas in the south.  In June of 2004, Cypriot authorities implemented new EU-related crossing regulations that allowed Americans (and citizens o ... [Read More]

V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G

Cyprus is a destination country for women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Traffickers who forced women into prostitution continued to fraudulently recruit victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term "artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or for illegal work on tourist or student visas. There was increasing evidence of Chinese women being trafficked for sexual exploitation in Cyprus. The Government of Cyprus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Cyprus made some progress in its anti-trafficking efforts over the past year. The new police anti-trafficking unit produced successful results and showed vigilance in combating the problem. Government recognition of the problem improve ... [Read More]

Cyprus Ethnological Materials Information Page

On August 29, 2003, the U.S. extended the emergency import restriction on Byzantine ecclesiastical and ritual ethnological material from Cyprus. The extension will be for three years from September 4, 2003. On April 12, 1999, the U.S. imposed an emergency import restriction on Byzantine ecclesiastical and ritual ethnological material from Cyprus unless such material is accompanied by an export permit issued by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. [Read More]

Cyprus Archaeological Materials Information Page

The bilateral agreement is in response to a request from the Government of the Republic of Cyprus seeking protection of its cultural heritage under Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Cyprus was the first country in the Mediterranean region to seek the help of the United States in protecting its cultural property. ... [Read More]

Cyprus

The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice.  The basic law in the Turkish Cypriot community also provides for freedom of religion, and the Turkish Cypriot authorities generally respect this right in practice.  However, the politically divisive environment on Cyprus occasionally affected aspects of religious freedom.  There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report, and government policy continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion. [Read More]

Cyprus

The law obligates the State to provide protection and support for victims. The Government made some efforts to protect women who brought complaints against employers by allowing them to remain in the country to press charges, or by facilitating their return home. Under the law, the Government must also provide shelter, medical, and psychiatric care until the victims have recovered from the trauma of their experiences. The Government reported receiving complaints against employers for exploitation. While the cases were pending, the women stayed in Cyprus at government expense. However, by year's end, all had chosen to leave Cyprus just before the trial date, and the Government was left each time with no witnesses. ... [Read More]

Cyprus

The Government continued to exhume sites in the south thought to contain the remains of persons missing since 1974. In December 2002, the Government conducted exploratory digging at a mass grave site in Alaminos village (Larnaca district) containing 14 Turkish Cypriots whose names are on the list of Turkish Cypriot missing. During the year, no remains of Greek Cypriots were identified through DNA testing. As of the previous year, a total of 127 remains had been identified. According to the Government, 1,493 Greek Cypriots remained missing. Turkish Cypriot authorities did not cooperate in the DNA identification effort. On June 5, the Government released to relatives information concerning the fate of Turkish Cypriots who were reported missing between 1963 and 1974. In June, the Government placed announcements in the Turkish Cypriot press informing Turkish Cypriots of this move. The announcements called on Turkish Cypriots to give blood samples to aid in identifying remains. ... [Read More]

2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Cyprus

For part of the year, the Government did not permit foreigners who had entered the country via ports in north Cyprus to cross into the government controlled area. On June 3, the Government revised its policy regarding green line crossings to allow EU citizens and citizens of other countries not subject to a visa requirement entering Cyprus from ports in north Cyprus to cross the green line into the government controlled areas. However, the Government continued to block any effort by Turkish Cypriot authorities or international parties to open Ercan Airport or any port in north Cyprus for travel to destinations other than Turkey. ... [Read More]

Cyprus

The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. The basic law governing the Turkish Cypriot community refers specifically to a "secular republic" and provides for freedom of religion, and the Turkish Cypriot authorities generally respect this right in practice. However, the politically divisive environment on Cyprus occasionally affected aspects of religious freedom. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report, and government policy continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion. After the Turkish Cypriot authorities' decision to relax crossing restrictions on April 23, 2003, Greek Cypriots reported relatively easy access to religious sites in the north, including Apostolos Andreas monastery; Turkish Cypriots equally were ... [Read More]