Vrachiapolis

Vrachiapolis, officially the Republic of Vrachiapolis, is a sovereign island country and city-state in southeastern Europe. It lies off the south-eastern coast of the island of Cyprus, bordering the Republic of Cyprus to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the west, south and east. The country's territory is composed of one main island, several satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet, the combined area of which has increased since the country's independence as a result of extensive land reclamation projects. With a multicultural population and recognising the need to respect cultural identities of the major ethnic groups within the nation, Vrachiapolis has three official languages: English, Greek, and Turkish, and recognises minority languages such as Romanian and Cypriot Arabic. Although English is the lingua franca, numerous public services are required by law to be available in all official and recognised languages. Multiracialism, egalitarianism and multiculturalism are enshrined in the constitution and continues to shape national policies in education, housing, and politics.

Vrachiapolis is a unitary parliamentary republic with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government, and its legal system is based on common law. Although the country is a multi-party democracy with free elections, the government under the Peace & Prosperity Party (PPP) wields significant control and dominance over politics and society. The PPP has been the dominant party in Vrachiapolis since full internal self-government was achieved in 1971, with 84 out of 150 seats in Parliament as of the 2020 election, the rest of the seats being held by the National Party (NP), the Socialist Party (SP), the Civic Democratic Union (CDU) and the Worker's Party (WP).

Vrachiapolis is a founding member of the, but has opted-out of Eurozone membership. Although not a member or observer, it cooperates with. It is also a member of the, the , the , the , the (OECD) and the.

Name and etymology
The name Vrachiapolis is an anglicisation of the Greek name for the city, Βραχιάπολη (Vrachiápoli), which roughly means "city on the rocks", which referred to the rocky cliffs around the original settlement.

British Vrachia
"Main article: British Vrachia"In 1878, the island of Cyprus came under British control, and with it, Vrachiapolis. The British, led by Sir Francis Rafe Lascelles, worked to develop Vrachiapolis into a major port in Cyprus, and population grew from 54,000 in 1870 to 250,000 by 1900. Lascelles has been named the "Father of the Port of Vrachiapolis", as he was one of the biggest figures in its creation and construction. Vrachiapolis became a popular vacation spot for the British aristocracy, thus starting its reputation as a resort destination. In 1890, Vrachiapolis became a separate British protectorate known as British Vrachia.

In 1914, following the declaration of war by the Ottoman Empire against Britain, Cyprus was annexed into the British Empire. Vrachiapolis was annexed in 1916.

Post-WWII; status as a city-state within Cyprus
"Main article: Crown Colony of Vrachiapolis"After WWII in 1945, British Vrachia was given more autonomy, and in 1947, Vrachiapolis became a separate Crown Colony. During the 1950s, Vrachiapolians were divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, with Greek Cypriots supporting the enosis of Vrachiapolis and Cyprus into Greece, while Turkish Cypriots supported the partition of Cyprus. Despite this, there was also a growing sector of groups and individuals who supported Vrachiapolian independence, including the National Vrachia Union (NVU) and the Peace & Prosperity Party (PPP).

On 16 August 1960, Cyprus obtained independence, but Vrachiapolis remained under British control, according to the. Increasingly, more and more Vrachiapolians campaigned for either integration with Cyprus or becoming independent as in the case of. In 1967, the Legislative Council was formed and the first direct elections were held later in the year, which resulted in a win for the pro-independence Socialist Party.

Self-governance
On 1 May 1971, Vrachiapolis achieved self-governance within the British Empire. Elections for the Legislative Council were held in December and was a win for the Peace & Prosperity Party.

Independence
At midnight on August 15, 1974, Vrachiapolis declared independence from British control. President Fahir Hamzaoglu announced that Vrachiapolis would be "an equal place", free of the inter-communal fighting between Greeks and Turks that was happening in Cyprus at the time. Fahir assigned Sakis Karahalios as Prime Minister, and the country set forth policies that supported multiracialism, multiculturalism and egalitarianism.

In 1979, Baha Çakmak won the country's first presidential election as an independent state. Çakmak's emphasis on economic growth, egalitarianism and support of business entrepreneurship shaped the country's policies for the next decade. Under his tenure, the country's service and tourism industries grew, two new airports were built and the country became a founding member of the European Union. The Port of Vrachiapolis became one of the world's busiest ports, while Vrachiapolis Ikopola Airport became one of the world's busiest airports.

Aytek Demirören became the country's third president on September 2, 2000. Baha Çakmak died on November 15, 2000 from heart failure, and a weeklong mourning period was declared. Under Demirören and Prime Minister Paris Chatzimichalis' tenure, the country underwent a period of extensive economical development, including the construction of three integrated resorts (IRs) – Disneyland Vrachiapolis Resort, MGM Vrachiapolis and Mediterranean Kingdom Akanal, as well as the 2006 death of Sakis Karahalios, which resulted in a one-week public mourning period, and the 2008 global financial crisis.

In 2010, İsenbike Çakmak, the eldest daughter of Baha Çakmak, became the country's fourth and first female president, with her installing Timos Nikoloudis as Prime Minister. Their tenure included the opening of the first of three high-speed rail lines, and the openings of two new integrated resorts, Sands Vrachiapolis and Globe Ikopola Airport. On 9 November 2013, Fahir Hamzaoglu died, and a one-week period of public mourning was observed nationwide.

In 2015, Onur Şanlı was elected president and re-installed Paris Chatzimichalis as Prime Minister for a third term in the position. Their tenure included the opening of the second high-speed rail line, the establishment of the Make in Vrachiapolis campaign, the opening of City of Wonders Akanal, and the opening of the Iremia and Akanal Cruiseports.

Government and politics
"See also: List of Presidents of Vrachiapolis, List of Prime Ministers of Vrachiapolis, List of political parties in Vrachiapolis"Vrachiapolis is a parliamentary republic based on the Westminster system. The Constitution of Vrachiapolis is the supreme law of the country, establishing the structure and responsibility of governance. The President is head of state and exercises many executive powers on the advice of the Cabinet with some exceptions including the appointment of the Prime Minister and the withholding of consent to a request for a dissolution of Parliament. The Prime Minister is head of government and is appointed by the President from among the Members of Parliament. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and such other Ministers as appointed by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.

Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by FPTP every five years, or sooner in the case of a snap election. The current Parliament has 150 members, 142 are directly elected from 65 constituencies and 8 are non-constituency members from opposition parties who were not elected in the last general election but appointed to the legislature to increase opposition party representation.

The Peace & Prosperity Party (PPP) has a dominant position in Vrachiapolian politics. They have won parliamentary majorities in every election since 1974, and sizable majorities in all but two elections (2015, 2020).

Administrative divisions
Vrachiapolis consists of 9 administrative divisions.

Geography
Vrachiapolis's territory is composed of one main island, known as Vrachiapolis Island, several satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet, the combined area of which has increased since the country's independence as a result of extensive land reclamation projects. The Inter-Mediterranean Causeway, linking the island nation with in, is the second-busiest international land border crossing in the world.

Land reclamation began as early as the 1960s as the population of Vrachiapolis increased. After independence in 1974, the Vrachiapolian government began more extensive land reclamation projects. Some projects, borrowed from Singapore, include the merging of smaller islands to form bigger, habitable islands. Until the 21st century, all land reclamation projects were done by sand or rocks.

Economy
Vrachiapolis has a highly developed market economy.

The Vrachiapolian economy is regarded as free, innovative, dynamic and business-friendly. For several years, Vrachiapolis has been one of the few countries with an AAA credit rating from the big three. Vrachiapolis attracts a large amount of foreign investment due to its location, skilled workforce, low tax rates, advanced infrastructure and zero-tolerance against corruption.

The nation is a global financial centre. The Vrachiapolis Stock Exchange is the 10th largest in the world. Vrachiapolis has two state-owned investment companies - Vrachiapolis Investment Authority (the country's sovereign wealth fund) and Kerastis Corporation.

Vrachiapolis has been identified as a tax haven for the wealthy due to its low tax rates on personal income and tax exemptions on foreign-based income and capital gains. The country has one of the highest percentages of millionaires in the world, with 8.5% of adults having at least one million US dollars in disposable wealth.

Vrachiapolis' currency, the Vrachiapolis drachma, was adopted in 1980 after several years of the country using the Greek drachma and Cypriot pound as co-official currencies. It is pegged to the euro through the ERM II. While most political entities in Vrachiapolis have rejected adopting the euro, the country follows the policies set forth in the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (EMU) and meets the economic convergence criteria needed to adopt the euro, and many stores and businesses accept payment in euros in addition to the Vrachiapolis drachma.

While there are small-scale egg-making farms and small-scale milk and cheese-making farms in Vrachiapolis, most livestock products (e.g. beef, pork, chicken) tend to be imported, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, with over 85% of food being imported from over 155 countries around the world. As a result, Vrachiapolis is the 17th largest importer in the world.

Recently, in order to decrease the need for livestock imports, the Vrachiapolian government has supported the creation of "Farmland Development Areas" (FDAs) which is reclaimed land that has been redeveloped to support the growing of crops and farmland to breed and feed livestock. The first, the Denis FDA, was officially created in 2017.

Tourism
Tourism is a major industry and contributor to the Vrachiapolian economy. Vrachiapolis is the sixth-most visited city in the world, and third-most in Europe.

Well-known landmarks include the Lion of the Rock, Central Gardens, Globe Ikopola Airport, MGM Vrachiapolis, the Vrachiapolian National Gallery, the Karahalios Arts Centre, the Vrachipolian International Convention Centre, the Mediterranean Eye, the Fountain of Peace, the New World Building, the Ikopola High-Speed Rail Centre, the resort islands of Iremia and Akanal, the Mediterranean Promenade shopping and entertainment district, and Denis Forest.

The Vrachiapolis Tourism Authority is the statutory board under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism which is tasked with the promotion of the country's tourism industry. The VTA and the Economic Development Board organize the Vibrant Vrachiapolis and Make in Vrachiapolis campaigns, which market Vrachiapolis internationally for tourism, business and manufacturing opportunities. The Mediterranean Promenade district, which is considered the centre of shopping and tourism in Vrachiapolis, contains a number of multi-storey shopping centres, entertainment venues, nightclubs, restaurants and hotels. Other popular tourist attractions include the Vrachiapolis Zoo and Aquatic Life Park. Vrachiapolis promotes itself as a LGBT tourism hub, citing its nightlife scene and progressive view of the LGBTQ+ community.

Transport
Vrachiapolis has a large road system spanning major portions of the city-state. As with most Commonwealth countries, vehicles on the road and people walking on the streets keep to the left (left-hand traffic).

Common alternatives to private vehicles include bicycles, bus, taxis and train (VRT or VLR). Two companies run the train transport system—VBC Transit and VMTS Corporation. A third company operates rail freight services—VMTS Freight. Five companies are contracted to run the bus system—VBC Transit, VMTS Corporation, New Transit, First Bus and TaxidiBus—each company operates a specific route. There are multiple taxi companies; the largest of which is Taxidi. Three high-speed rail lines begin in Vrachiapolis - the Vrachiapolis–Nicosia high-speed rail line, the Vrachiapolis–Limassol high-speed rail line and the Vrachiapolis–Larnaca high-speed rail line, they are operated by the Vrachiapolis High-Speed Rail Corporation, doing business as IslandConnector.

Vrachiapolis is a major international transport hub in Europe, serving some of the busiest sea and air trade routes. The country has two international airports, Ikopola Airport and Pantelaides Airport. Both airports are considered major aviation centres for southeastern Europe, with the former often being ranked among the world's best airports. The country maintains two flag carriers, Vrachiapolis Airlines based at Ikopola Airport and Esinti Airlines based at Pantelaides Airport.

The Inter-Mediterranean Causeway, linking Vrachiapolis with, , is the second-busiest international land border crossing in the world.

Culture
Vrachiapolis has a diverse mix of cultures, languages, and religions. Former President Aytek Demirören has said that Vrachiapolis is "near-free of the rivalry between Greeks and Turks", and as a result of "everyone working together, Vrachiapolis has been able to prosper".

Arts
Arts in Vrachiapolis are governed by the Vrachiapolis Council for the Arts. The Vrachiapolian National Gallery is the nation's largest and most-visited art museum, totaling 1,170,394 visitors in 2021, while the Karahalios Arts Centre is a leading performing arts centre in Europe.

Music
The music of Vrachiapolis ranges from pop and rock, to folk and classical. Traditional folk music consists of Greek, Turkish, and Arab influences. Common instruments used in folk are the violin, tambouras, and percussions. When the British took control of the city, they introduced classical music, which quickly became popular among the Vrachian upper-class. Orchestras were hosted in the Queen Alexandra Hall (which was merged into the Karahalios Arts Centre upon its creation in 2007). In 1976, the Vrachiapolis Symphony Orchestra was formed after the merger of the British Vrachia Symphony Orchestra and the Queen Alexandra Hall Orchestra.

In modern times, Vrachiapolis has a bustling music scene, therefore making it a centre for international performances, concerts and festivals in the region. In addition, Vrachiapolian musicians have participated in many music competitions including and Vrachiapolian Idol. Many Vrachiapolian singers/artists have become well-known throughout the world, including Florence Vasiliadis, Shanzay, Vassilios, Virginia Serghei and Çağatay Çağatay.

Sport and recreation
Some of the most popular sports in Vrachiapolis include association football and basketball. Vrachiapolis' football league system, the Vrachiapolis Premier League, was formed in its current form in 1993, and has been successful, with some clubs making it to the and. On the world stage, the men's and women's national football teams have qualified for multiple World Cups. The national basketball championship, the Vrachiapolis National Basketball League, has seen two of its teams, Ikopola Sports Club B.C. and Royal Pantelaides B.C., become regulars in the.

Since 1984, Vrachiapolis has hosted the Vrachiapolis Grand Prix, part of the. Pantelaides Racecourse is run by the Vrachiapolis Turf Club and hosts several meets per week, including international races.

Media

 * See also: Telecommunications in Vrachiapolis, List of radio stations in Vrachiapolis, List of television stations in Vrachiapolis

Media in Vrachiapolis includes companies linked to the government and privately-run companies. The major television companies are CommuniCorp, Four Media, RTL Vrachiapolis and MyMedia. Major radio companies include CommuniCorp, Mediterranean Radio Network and MyRadio.

In 2018, there were an estimated 4.0 million internet users in Vrachiapolis. The government does not engage in widespread censoring of the internet, but has blocked some sites that it deems "unacceptable for Vrachiapolian society—including content that is harmful, hateful or otherwise unfriendly."