minate the lease

Illicit drugs: territorial waters and air space serve as
transshipment zone for cocaine bound for the US and Europe;
established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999

======================================================================

@Cyprus

Cyprus Introduction

Background: Independence from the UK was approved in 1960 with
constitutional guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the
Turkish Cypriot minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to
seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey,
which soon controlled almost 40% of the island. In 1983, the
Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus", but it is recognized only by Turkey. UN-led talks on the
status of Cyprus resumed in December 1999 to prepare the ground for
meaningful negotiations leading to a comprehensive settlement.

Cyprus Geography

Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
Turkey

Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E

Map references: Middle East

Area: total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish
Cypriot area)

land: 9,240 sq km

water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 648 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation

territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool,
winters

Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered
but significant plains along southern coast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

highest point: Olympus 1,951 m

Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt,
marble, clay earth pigment

Land use: arable land: 12%

permanent crops: 5%

permanent pastures: 0%

forests and woodland: 13%

other: 70% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Environment - current issues: water resource problems (no natural
reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water
intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the
north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal
degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution,
Biodiversity, Climate Change,