|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Population: 750,000 est. Land Area: 3,571 sq. mi., 9,250 sq. km. (about half the size of Connecticut) Capital: Nicosia (pop. 178,000) People: Greek 78%, Turkish 18% Religion: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18% |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This small island in the Mediterranean has been the site of continual conflict between ancient adversaries Greece and Turkey and despite the relative calm, increasing tourism and prosperity, it remains a place of bitter division. Cyprus is partitioned into a Greek and Turkish sectors, has been under UN peacekeeping supervision and hosts military garrisons from Britain and Turkey. Its ultimate destiny remains unresolved and renewed violence could erupt at any time. Whenever, or wherever disputes arise between Greece and Turkey, Cyprus represents an instant flashpoint for potential military confrontation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Once part of the Ottoman Empire, the Turks relinquished control of Cyprus to Britain in exchange for assistance and protection from Czarist Russia in 1878. The island was annexed to Britain in 1914 and became a colony in 1925. After World War II, Britain used the island as a detention area for Jewish immigrants to Palestine. In the 1930's, Greek Cypriots (78% of the population), led by the Greek Orthodox Church, began a movement for "enosis" or union with Greece. In response, Britain sent many dissident priests into exile, however the movement continued to grow, erupting in violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in 1954-55. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In 1960, Britain granted independence, under a plan including constitutional guarantees for the 18%, Turkish minority. Archbishop Makarios returned from exile and became President. Under Makarios, Cyprus became instrumental in the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, which alienated the US. Makarios also faced pressure from right-wingers, who still wanted enosis with Greece and he attempted to favor the Greek Cypriots, which alienated the Turkish community and led to inter-communal violence in 1964, when a UN peacekeeping force was deployed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In 1974, Makarios was overthrown by Greek army officers of the Cypriot National Guard and fled to Britain. Nikos Sampson, an advocate of enosis, was appointed president. Fearing this would lead to union with Greece, Turkey invaded in July 1974, within days of his appointment. Turkish forces bombed the capital, Nicosia and occupied the northern two-fifths of Cyprus, driving 200,000 Cypriots to the South, allegedly to protect the Turkish minority. Faced with the prospect of war with Turkey, the Greek military junta resigned. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Despite international efforts, Turkey refused to withdraw its troops and in July 1975, declared a Turkish-Cypriot Federal state in the occupied North and appointed Rauf Denktash President. Archbishop Makarios then returned as President of Cyprus. The US cut off aid to Turkey in 1975. Makarios and Denktash negotiated a settlement, which was negated by Turkey's refusal to withdraw its troops, however the US resumed aid to Turkey in 1978. In November 1983, Turkey declared its territory the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, which the international community has refused to recognize. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the South, the Greek-Cypriot community benefited from growing prosperity as tourism increased and Cyprus replaced Lebanon as a financial center. Meanwhile the North suffered as its population grew with the influx of Turkish-Cypriot immigrants, Turks and a large army presence. In 1987, Greek-US relations soured as US military hardware appeared in the Turkish North. Giorgis Vassiliu was elected president of Cyprus in 1988 and renewed negotiations with Denktash. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The prospering Greek-Cypriots desire UN guaranteed independence, freedom of movement and rights to property ownership throughout the island, while Turkish-Cypriots want to maintain a strict partition and the bi-national federation, guaranteed by Turkey and its military. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The United Nations declared Cyprus a "bi-communitarian and bi-regional country" in 1992, while Cyprus affirmed the legitimacy of British military bases. The European Court imposed an embargo on Turkish-Cypriot exports, adding to the economic plight in the North. In 1997, the EU granted permission for Cyprus to apply for membership, while rejecting Turkey. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Since the times of the Ottoman Empire, when Turkey was seen as "the sick man of Europe", Turkey has aspired for recognition and acceptance as a European nation and the economic gains this would entail. However, its obstinate, militaristic politics have alienated Europeans, if not the US, which relies on Turkish cooperation to maintain its Incirlik air base, from which to project air power in the Middle East. The hope for long-term peace may lie in extracting Turkish compromise and cooperation in exchange for entry into the European Union. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| During 1996, political demonstrations resulted in several deaths and Amnesty International has suggested the involvement of Turkish-Cypriot authorities. The UN continues to patrol a buffer zone separating Greek and Turkish sectors, across which, access is restricted. Police in the Turkish/North are under military control, in the Greek-Cypriot/South, civilian control. As expected in such a divided situation sporadic incidents occur and claims of police abuses emanate from both sectors. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Resources: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additional Information: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| US State Dept. Background Notes (Contents) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| http://www.state.gov/r/pa/bgn/ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. State Department Background Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| http://www.state.gov/r/pa/bgn/5376.htm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. State Dept. 2001 Human Rights Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/eur/5376.htm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Human Rights Watch Report - Greece | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| http://www.hrw.org/wr2k2/europe10.html | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Human Rights Watch Report - Turkey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| http://www.hrw.org/wr2k2/europe19.htmly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Bank Economic Data Summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| http://www.worldbank.org/cgi-bin/sendoff.cgi?page=%2Fdata%2Fcountrydata%2Faag%2Fcyp_aag.pdf | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
