Editing Nicosia (section)

==Politics and administration==

===Governance of the metropolitan area===
[[File:Nicosia conurbation map.png|thumb|upright=1.15|alt=Map of Greater Nicosia|Greater Nicosia]]Greater Nicosia is administered by several municipalities. In the centre is the city municipality of Nicosia itself (see below). Other municipalities are [[Strovolos]], [[Lakatamia]], [[Latsia]], [[Aglandjia]], [[Engomi]], [[Agios Dhometios]] and the newly formed ({{As of|2011|lc=y}}) [[Yeri, Cyprus|Yeri]] & [[Tseri]].

The population of the conurbation is 300,000 (2011 census, plus Turkish Cypriot administered census of 2006) of which 100,000 live within the Nicosia municipal area. Because Nicosia municipality has separate communal municipal administrations, the population of Strovolos (67,904 (2011 Census)) is actually the largest of all the local authorities in Greater Nicosia.

Within Nicosia municipality, most of the population resides in the more recently annexed outlying areas of [[Kaimakli]], [[Pallouriotissa]], [[Omorfita]] and [[Ayioi Omoloyites, Nicosia|Ayii Omoloyites]].

There is no metropolitan authority as such for Greater Nicosia and various roles, responsibilities and functions for the wider area are undertaken by the Nicosia District administration, bodies such as the Nicosia Water Board and, to some extent, Nicosia municipality.

The Nicosia Water Board supplies water to the following municipalities: Nicosia, Strovolos, Aglandjia, Engomi, Ay. Dometios, Latsia, Geri and Tseri. The board consists of three persons nominated by the Council of each municipality, plus three members appointed by the government, who are usually the District Officer of Nicosia District, who chairs the Board, the Accountant General and the Director of the Water Department. The board also supply Anthoupolis and Ergates, for whom the government provide representatives. Thus the board is in the majority controlled by the municipalities of Greater Nicosia in providing this vital local government service.<ref>[http://www.wbn.org.cy Official web site of the Nicosia Water Board] (extract 20 May 2013)</ref>

The Nicosia Sewerage Board, is likewise majority controlled by the municipalities of Greater Nicosia. It is chaired ''ex officio'' by the Mayor of Nicosia and consists of members chosen by the municipalities of Nicosia (6 members), Strovolos (5 members),
Aglandjia (2 members),
Lakatamia (2 members),
Ay. Dometios (2 members),
Engomi (2 members),
Latsia (1 member).
The sewage treatment plant is at [[Mia Milia]]. The Nicosia Sewerage System serves a population of approximately 140,000 and an area of {{convert|20|km2|0|abbr=on|sp=us}}. Approximately 30% of the influent is contributed by the Turkish Cypriot Side.<ref>[http://www.sbn.org.cy Official web site of the Nicosia Sewerage Board] (extract 20 May 2013)</ref>

Public transport is not controlled by the local authorities, but comes under the Nicosia District administration, which is an arm of the Ministry of the Interior. Transport services (primarily bus and taxi) are provided by private operators such as OSEL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.osel.com.cy/ |title=Official web site of Organization for Communications of Nicosia District |access-date=23 September 2011 |archive-date=6 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606042432/http://www.osel.com.cy/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In late 2019 the contract for providing transport services in the district of Nicosia was awarded via tender to a private consortium which was expected to take over the system on 5 July 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/nicosia-bus-services-in-the-hands-of-kapnos-consortium/|title=Nicosia bus services in the hands of Kapnos consortium|website=in-cyprus.philenews.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politis.com.cy/politis-news/kypros/leoforeia-leykosias-ypografike-i-symvasi/|title=Λεωφορεία Λευκωσίας: Υπογράφηκε η σύμβαση|date=24 January 2020}}</ref>

===Nicosia Municipality===
{{see also|List of mayors of Nicosia Municipality}}
[[File:NICOSIA, 11 AUGUST, 2011 114.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The old building of the Nicosia Municipality at [[Eleftheria square|Eleftheria Square]]]]
The [[Nicosia Municipality]] is responsible for all the municipal duties within the walled city and the immediately adjacent areas. The Constitution states that various main government buildings and headquarters must be situated within the Nicosia municipal boundaries.<ref>e.g. Constitution of Cyprus Article 153, s2 – "The seat of the High Court shall be in the capital of the Republic."</ref> However separate municipalities are prescribed by the constitution for in the five largest towns, including Nicosia,<ref>Constitution of Cyprus Article 173 – "Separate municipalities shall be created in the five largest towns of the Republic, that is to say, Nicosia, Limassol, Famagusta, Larnaca and Paphos by the Turkish inhabitants thereof"</ref> and in the case of Nicosia the separate administration was established in 1958. The Turkish Municipal Committees (Temporary Provisions) Law, 1959<ref>Law 1959 c3</ref> established a municipal authority run by a "Turkish Municipal Committee", defined as "the body of persons set up on or after the first day of July, 1958, in the towns of Nicosia, Limassol, Famagusta, Larnaca and Paphos by the Turkish inhabitants thereof for the purpose of performing municipal functions within the municipal limits of such towns".The "[[Nicosia Turkish Municipality]]", founded in 1958, carries out municipal duties in the northern and north-western part of city.<ref>Phoebe Koundouri, ''Water Resources Allocation: Policy and Socioeconomic Issues in Cyprus'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=f957ycdkGsMC&dq=%22is+responsible+for+all+the+municipal+duties+and%22&pg=PA70 p. 70.]</ref> The remaining areas, in the south and east of the city, are administered by [[Nicosia Municipality]].

===Nicosia Turkish Municipality===
[[File:Lefkoşa Türk Belediyesi.JPG|thumb|right|alt=Nicosia Turkish Municipal building |Nicosia Turkish Municipal building]]
The first attempt to establish a [[Nicosia Turkish Municipality]] was made in 1958. In October 1959, the British Colonial Administration passed the Turkish Municipality Committees law. In 1960 with the declaration of independence of Cyprus, the Constitution of the [[Republic of Cyprus]] gave Turkish Cypriots the right to establish their own municipality.<ref>Phoebe Koundouri, ''Water Resources Allocation: Policy and Socioeconomic Issues in Cyprus'', Springer, 2010, [https://books.google.com/books?id=f957ycdkGsMC&dq=%221960+Constitution+of+the+Republic+of+Cyprus+gave+the+right+to%22&pg=PA70 p. 70.]</ref><ref>''The Middle East: a survey and directory of the countries of the Middle East'', Europa Publications., 1966, [https://books.google.com/books?id=yl4gAQAAMAAJ&q=%22+the+Turkish+municipality+of+Nicosia+asked+for+a+similar+decision+against+the+Council+of+Ministers%22 p. 171.]</ref><ref name="const">{{cite web |url=http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/portal/portal.nsf/0/f7eb7480579b1a50c2256fdb0040a003?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=5#_Section5 |title=The Constitution – Appendix D: Part 12 – Miscellaneous Provisions |language=el |publisher=Cyprus.gov.cy |access-date=10 March 2012 |archive-date=5 August 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805123156/http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/portal/portal.nsf/0/f7eb7480579b1a50c2256fdb0040a003?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=5#_Section5 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As negotiations between the two sides to establish separate municipalities failed in 1962, implementing legislation was never passed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/municipalities%20pt%202.html |title=The Issue of Separate Municipalities and the Birth of the New Republic: Cyprus 1957–1963 (University of Minnesota Press, 2000) |publisher=Cyprus-conflict.net |access-date=10 March 2012 |archive-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326163329/http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/municipalities%20pt%202.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cytoc.html |title=The Library of Congress – Country Studies: Cyprus – Ch. 4 – 1960 Constitution |publisher=Lcweb2.loc.gov |date=27 July 2010 |access-date=10 March 2012}}</ref> Since the complete division of Nicosia following the Turkish Invasion in 1974, the [[Nicosia Turkish Municipality]] has become the [[de facto]] local authority of northern Nicosia. The [[Nicosia Turkish Municipality]] is a member of the Union of Cyprus Turkish Municipalities.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EZEeqAdvwDgC&q=TRNC+Local+Government+Units+and+their+unions&pg=PA420|title=Comparative E-Government | first=Christopher G. |last=Reddick|isbn=978-1-4419-6535-6|date=2010-08-19 |publisher=Springer }}</ref> The mayor is [[Mehmet Harmancı]] from the [[Communal Democracy Party]].

=== Other municipalities in Greater Nicosia ===
Until 1986 there were no suburban municipalities. Then, following the procedures in the Municipal Law 111/1985, Strovolos, Engomi, Ay. Dometios, Aglandjia, Latsia and Lakatamia were erected into municipalities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.engomi.org.cy/ |title=Official web site of Engomi municipality, history section (Greek version) |access-date=20 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826091849/http://engomi.org.cy/ |archive-date=26 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Each municipal council has the number of members described in the Municipal Law 111/1985 depending on the population figures. All members of the council are elected directly by the people for a period of 5 years.

===Administrative divisions and demographics===
{{main article|Administrative divisions of Nicosia}}
[[File:Nicosia local government units (2).png|thumb|Administrative divisions (2011 Census)]]
Nicosia within the city limits is divided into 29 administrative units, according to the latest census. This unit is termed in English as ''[[Quarter (urban subdivision)|quarter]], neighborhood, [[parish]], enoria'' or ''[[mahalla]]''. These units are: [[Ayios Andreas, Nicosia|Ayios Andreas]] (formerly Tophane), [[Trypiotis]], [[Nebethane, Nicosia|Nebethane]], [[Tabakhane, Nicosia|Tabakhane]], Phaneromeni, [[Ayios Savvas, Nicosia|Ayios Savvas]], Omerie, [[Ayios Antonios, Nicosia|Ayios Antonios]] (St. Anthony), St. John, [[Taht-el-kale, Nicosia|Taht-el-kale]], Chrysaliniotissa, [[Ayios Kassianos, Nicosia|Ayios Kassianos (Kafesli)]], [[Kaimakli|Kaïmakli]], [[Pallouriotissa|Panayia, St Constantine & Helen]], [[Agioi Omologites, Nicosia|Agioi Omologites]], [[Arab Ahmet, Nicosia|Arab Ahmet]], [[Yeni Jami, Nicosia|Yeni Jami]], [[Omorfita]], Ibrahim Pasha, Mahmut Pasha, [[Ak Kavuk, Nicosia|Abu Kavouk]], [[Ayios Loukas, Nicosia|St. Luke]], Abdi Chavush, [[Iplik Pazar and Korkut Effendi]], Ayia Sophia, [[Haydar Pasha, Nicosia|Haydar Pasha]], Karamanzade,<ref>Census of Cyprus (available from Statistical Service, Nicosia). Document: Population – Place of Residence, 2011, Table C. Municipality/Community, Quarter and Street Index published by Ministry of Information (CILIS_streets_022011)</ref> and [[Yenişehir, Nicosia|Yenişehir/Neapolis]].<ref name=Neapoli_quarter>Official Gazette of the Republic No. 4341 and dated 25.01.2010</ref>

[[File:Parlanet cyprus.jpg|thumb|left|Presidential Palace in Strovolos area.]]
The municipality of Strovolos, established in 1986, is the second largest municipal authority in Cyprus in terms of population after Limassol and encompasses the southern suburbs of the capital immediately adjacent to Nicosia municipality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.strovolos.org.cy/|title=Αρχική Σελίδα|website=Strovolos Municipality}}</ref> [[Lakatamia]], [[Latsia]], [[Geri, Cyprus|Geri]] and [[Aglandjia]] are other separate municipalities in the Nicosia metropolitan area.

The town of [[Gönyeli]] is now conurbated with the northern suburbs. Previously a village authority, it now functions as a municipality<ref>[http://www.gonyeli.org/ Gonyeli Municipal web site] August 2013</ref> within the same area<ref>The authority has the population, economic viability and consent of the (original) inhabitants prescribed in the Municipalities Law (see Law 11/1985), without having been formally recognized as a municipality under that law. See also www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net/default_print.asp?id=300 retrieved August 2013</ref> The suburbs immediately to the north of the city have not organized into municipalities. The village authority of [[Hamitköy]] (also known as Hamid Mandres) is highly urbanized<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net/default.asp?id=301 |title=PRIO |publisher=PRIO Internal Displacement In Cyprus |access-date=2017-03-29}}</ref> and was included within the borders of Nicosia Turkish Municipality<ref>{{cite web |title=Cleaning Campaign from NTM in Hamitköy... |date=2008-08-21 |url=http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/english/news/cln_hamitkoy.htm |access-date=2012-04-15 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803161549/http://www.lefkosabelediyesi.org/english/news/cln_hamitkoy.htm |archive-date=3 August 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> as a Nicosia neighborhood headed by a [[Muhtar (title)|muhtar]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lefkosaturkbelediyesi.org/turkce/muhtarlar.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518102530/http://www.lefkosaturkbelediyesi.org/turkce/muhtarlar.htm |url-status=dead|title=Muhtarlarımız |archive-date=18 May 2014}}</ref> [[Ortakioi|Ortakeuy]] Village authority<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net/default.asp?id=342 |title=Ortakeuy |publisher=PRIO Internal Displacement In Cyprus |access-date=2017-03-29}}</ref> has similarly been redefined as a neighborhood of Nicosia Turkish Municipality.