Freedom in the World 2004 - Cyprus

Political Rights: 1
Civil Liberties: 1
Status: Free
Population: 900,000
GNI/Capita: $12,320
Life Expectancy: 77
Religious Groups: Greek Orthodox (78 percent), Muslim (18 percent), other (4 percent)
Ethnic Groups: Greek (85 percent), Turkish (12 percent), other (3 percent)
Capital: Nicosia

Overview

Tension and confidence mounted in early 2003, as it appeared that the two sides of divided Cyprus might reach an agreement on reuniting the island. However, no agreement was reached by the deadline of March 2003 set by the United Nations and Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has worked hard to bring about a resolution. Though the failure of talks was widely blamed on the intransigence of Rauf Denktash, the long-time Turkish Cypriot leader, an election in Greek Cyprus shortly before the deadline may have contributed as well. In February, Tassos Papadapoulous was elected in place of Glafcos Clerides, the incumbent; Clerides was seen as conceding too much to the Turkish Cypriots in negotiations, and Papadapoulous is expected to take a tougher line in the future. Despite the failure of the peace plan to date, Greek Cypriots got good news in April 2003, when the treaty enlarging the European Union (EU) by 10 countries was signed. Greek Cyprus will join without the northern part of the island.

Annexed by Britain in 1914, Cyprus gained independence in 1960 after a 10-year guerrilla campaign by partisans demanding union with Greece. In July 1974, Greek Cypriot National Guard members, backed by the military junta in power in Greece, staged an unsuccessful coup aimed at unification. Five days later, Turkey invaded northern Cyprus, seized control of 37 percent of the island, and expelled 200,000 Greeks from the north. Currently, the entire Turkish Cypriot community resides in the north, and property claims arising from the division and population exchange remain key sticking points in the reunification negotiations.

A buffer zone, called the "Green Line," has divided Cyprus since 1974. The capital, Nicosia, is similarly divided. The division of Cyprus has been a major point of contention in the long-standing rivalry between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean. Tensions and intermittent violence between the two populations have plagued the island since independence. UN resolutions stipulate that Cyprus is a single country in which the northern third is illegally occupied. In 1982, Turkish-controlled Cyprus declared its independence, a move recognized only by Turkey.

The UN-sponsored negotiations on reuniting the island broke down in 2003 over a range of issues. On the Greek side, President Clerides was seen as having conceded too much to his Turkish counterpart, Rauf Denktash, especially on the right of Greek Cypriots to return to land lost after the Turkish invasion. (They also note that Turkish Cypriots control 37 percent of the island's land, but are less than 20 percent of its population.) Denktash, on his side, insisted that the plan did not offer Turkish Cypriots strong enough guarantees of equal rights in a united Cyprus.

Shortly before the collapse of the talks, Papadapoulous was elected president in February with 51.5 percent of the vote. He is believed to have won because his predecessor had offered too much to the Turkish Cypriots. His Democratic Party (Diko) has its roots in the so-called rejectionist movement, which once took an uncompromising line on negotiations with the Turkish Cypriots, but which now backs the idea of eventual federation along the general lines of the UN plan. Papadapoulous is backed in parliament by the Progressive Party of the Working People (Akel), a self-described Communist, but essentially Social-Democratic, party.

Though most EU members did not want to accept only part of Cyprus as a member, the EU reluctantly did so after the failure of the talks. Greece had threatened to veto the entire enlargement process, involving nine other countries, if Greek Cyprus was not included. Preparation for EU membership will mean, among other things, implementing liberalizing measures in the economy, which has a large dose of state ownership and intervention, to bring it into line with EU norms.

In April, shortly after the Greek Cypriot government signed the EU accession treaty, the Turkish Cypriot authorities loosened border crossings with the south, in a move greeted with enthusiasm on both sides. This came after some pressure not only from Turkish Cypriots, who strongly back negotiations with their Greek Cypriot neighbors, but from Turkey itself. The new government of Turkey, elected in November 2002, is less willing than past governments to back the Turkish Cypriot hard line on negotiations, because Turkey's own chances of getting into the EU hinge on, among other things, a resolution of the island's division.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Greek Cypriots can change their government democratically. Suffrage is universal and compulsory, and elections are free and fair. The 1960 constitution established an ethnically representative system designed to protect the interests of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and from the Greek Cypriot point of view the constitution still applies to the entire island. There is a clear separation of powers between the executive and legislature. Ministers may not be members of parliament, which has 80 seats, 24 of which are left vacant for Turkish Cypriots.

Freedom of speech is respected, and a vibrant independent press frequently criticizes authorities. Several private television and radio stations in the Greek Cypriot community compete effectively with government-controlled stations.

Freedom of religion is provided for by the constitution and is protected in practice. Around 99 percent of the inhabitants of Greek-controlled Cyprus are Greek Orthodox Christians. An agreement with northern authorities dating from 1975 provides for freedom of worship for both communities in both parts of the island. The government does not restrict academic freedom.

Nongovernmental organizations, including human rights groups, operate without government interference. Workers have the right to strike and to form trade unions without authorization. More than 70 percent of the workforce belongs to independent trade unions.

The independent judiciary operates according to the British tradition, upholding the presumption of innocence and the right to due process. Trial before a judge is standard, although requests for trial by jury are regularly granted. Cyprus is a member of the Council of Europe, and its citizens have recourse to the European Court of Human Rights. In January 2003, a report issued by the Council of Europe (based on a visit to prisons in 2000) expressed concern about ill-treatment of prisoners, including beating, electric shocks, and threats, prompting promises of corrective legislation from the government.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, around 1,200 Turkish Cypriots live in Greek-controlled Cyprus. The 1975 agreement between the two sides governs treatment of minorities. In practice, Turkish Cypriots in the south have reported difficulty obtaining identity cards and other documents, and complained of surveillance by the police.

Women in Cyprus have levels of legal protection equivalent to other European countries. Women hold 6 seats in parliament.