Cyprus
Island in the Mediterranean Sea, off the S coast of Turkey and W coast
of Syria.
Government
Under the 1960 constitution, power is shared between Greek and Turkish
Cypriots, but in 1963 the Turks ceased participating and in 1964
set up a separate community in northern Cyprus, refusing to acknowledge
the Greek government in the south. The Greek Cypriot government
claims to be the government of all Cyprus and is generally accepted
as such, except by the Turkish community. There are, therefore,
two republics, each with a president, council of ministers, legislature,
and judicial system. The ` Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
´ has its own representatives overseas. Greek Cyprus has a president,
elected for five years by universal adult suffrage, and a single-
chamber legislature, the 80-member house of representatives, also
elected for five years. The president appoints and heads a council
of ministers. Under the separate constitution adopted by Turkish
Cyprus 1985, there is a president, council of ministers, and legislature
similar to that in the south. Turkey is the only country to have
recognized this government.
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