Cyprus is an island country located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, north of the Sinai Peninsula, south of the Anatolian Peninsula, and west of the Levant
. It is geographically part of West Asia, but its cultural ties and geopolitics are predominantly Southeast European
. The capital and largest city of Cyprus is Nicosia
. The country has a rich history and is known for its mineral wealth, natural beauty, and excellent wines and produce
. Cyprus has been a member of the Commonwealth since 1961 and joined the European Union on May 1, 2004
. The country is a presidential republic with a unicameral legislature, and its president serves as both the head of state and government
. The official languages of Cyprus are Greek and Turkish, with Greek being the only official EU language
. The country's economy is diverse, with the most important sectors being wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services, public administration, defense, education, and human health and social work activities
. The island of Cyprus is divided de facto into two autonomous entities: the Republic of Cyprus, which controls two-thirds of the island, and the Turkish Cypriot one-third in the north, with a buffer zone maintained by UN peacekeeping forces between them
. Efforts to reunite the island under a federal structure are ongoing, with the entire island entering the EU as a divided territory
