Cyprus is a parliamentary republic in the north-eastern Mediterranean, situated close to the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. With an area of 9,251 square kilometres (3,572 square miles) it is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily and Sardinia.

The Troodos Mountains in the southwest are denominated by Mount Olympus, which reaches a height of 1,951 metres (6,401 feet).The capital Nicosia is the banking and financial centre of Cyprus. The tourist resort of Limassol is also the island's main port and houses the main activities of international business companies.The overall population of the southern Greek Cypriot side is approximately 670,000.

It gained independence from Britain in 1960.The Turkish invasion of 1974 resulted in the occupation of 38% of the island and the displacement of 200,000 from their homes. The country was then forcibly divided into two parts by a line stretching from occupied Famagusta on the east coast to the northwest coast above Pomos, cutting through the capital Nicosia. This is the so-called 'Green Line'. The United Nations continue to house soldiers along the Green Line.

Cyprus is full member of the European Union and it will join the eurozone by changing its currency from Cyprus Pound to Euro per 1st january 2008