Cyprus Issues - 2024

Disputes - international

hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the EU still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north; has had maritime/economic exclusion zone disputes with Turkey, particularly over energy exploration

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 10,869 (Syria) (mid-year 2022); 17,270 (Ukraine) (as of 11 February 2024)

IDPs: 246,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced since 1974) (2022)

stateless persons: 74 (2022)

note: 55,098 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2023)

Illicit drugs

the ROC financial system is vulnerable to money laundering by domestic and foreign criminals; proceeds generated by illicit activity abroad pose a greater threat; primary sources of illicit proceeds are investment fraud, corruption, advance fee fraud, tax evasion, illegal drugs, and tobacco smuggling. Additionally, cybercrime, especially phishing, e-mail hacking, and ransomware use, continues to increase. Criminals have reportedly used ROC banks to launder proceeds, particularly from Russian and Ukrainian illicit activity.