Cyprus, «SY pruhs», is an island and a country in the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea. It lies about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Turkey, 60 miles (95 kilometers) west of Syria, and 470 miles (760 kilometers) southeast of Greece. It covers an area of 3,572 square miles (9,251 square kilometers). Geographically, Cyprus is part of Asia but since 2004 is politically part of the European Union (EU).
Map credit: CNN
Cyprus is divided into two de facto sections: the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus and the self-acclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The Republic of Cyprus is run by the Greek Cypriots who control the southern part of the island. The Republic of Cyprus is recognized by all countries except Turkey as the legal government of the entire island of Cyprus. Turkey recognizes only the northern section as an independent nation. Divided Nicosia (Lefkosia by the Greek Cypriots and called Lefkosha by Turkish Cypriots) is the capital in both sections.
Cyprus lies on major trade routes between Europe, Asia and Africa. A number of people have controlled the island through the centuries including the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans and Byzantines. Cyprus became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1571 after the latter defeated the Venetian rulers of the island. In 1878, it came under British rule. Cyprus became independent on Aug. 16, 1960.
The Constitution of Cyprus originally provided for shared governmental powers between the island's Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. But deep divisions and mistrust between the two groups led to violent clashes in 1963-4 and 1967. In July 1974, Turkish troops landed in northern Cyprus in response to what the Turkish government saw as a Greek attempt to unite Cyprus with Greece. After widespread fighting, a cease-fire was declared in August, and the island became divided into separate Greek and Turkish Cypriot sections.
People
Photo: The Ledra Street/Lokmaci barricade in Nicosia was constructed in 1963 to divide the city’s most commercial street. Its opening in 2008 was hailed as a highly symbolic move towards peace (Credit Marc P. Berenson).
The population of Cyprus is estimated to be approximately a million people. Inhabitants in the south make up approximately three-fourths of the current population of the island. Current inhabitants in the north make up the rest. The majority of the Greek Cypriots belong to the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus, one of the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Most Turkish Cypriots are non-practicing (Sunni) Muslims. There are also smaller indigenous communities of Maronites, Armenians, Latins (Roman Catholics) and Roma. Immigration mostly from the former Soviet Union has contributed to recent demographic growth in the south. People settled illegally from Turkey after 1974 and their descendants constitute approximately half of the current population in the northern part. Unlike Turkish Cypriots, most tend to be practicing Muslims. Settlers tend to be politically marginalized in the Turkish Cypriot community. In the current Turkish Cypriot assembly only two members among fifty are natives of Turkey.
Greek and Turkish Cypriots commonly enjoy similar kinds of food. Many dishes are prepared with olive oil and contain meat mixed with vegetables. Favorite dishes include souvlaki (meat cooked on a long rod), stifado (beef stew), and kleftiko (lamb roasted in traditional ovens). Some dishes which are exclusive to Cyprus are afelia (braised pork with coriander), grilled halloumi cheese, and sheftalies (grilled minced meat). Popular beverages include beer, brandy and wine. Cypriots also like to drink the traditional Zivania distillate produced by the residue of grapes and Koumandaria a rich sweet dessert wine dating back to the times of the Crusaders.
Greek is the primary language of the south, and Turkish the language of the north. Both Greek and Turkish Cypriots speak dialects of Greek and Turkish respectively which contain many common Cypriot words. English is widely spoken by both communities.
Most adult Cypriots can read and write. Elementary and secondary education throughout the island is free. In the south, children from 6 to 15 years old are required to attend school. In the north, children from 7 to 15 years of age must attend school. The University of Cyprus, the University of Nicosia and the European University Cyprus are the three most established universities in the Greek section of the island. The Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta is the largest university in the north.
Land and Climate
Two mountain systems dominate the landscape of Cyprus. The rugged Pentadaktylos (Kyrenia) range stretches along the northern coast. Parts of the Troodos Massif, in the southwest, are thickly forested. Mount Olympus, the range's highest peak, rises 6,403 feet (1,951 meters) above sea level. Between the two systems lie the Mesaoria and Morphou plains.
Cyprus has a pleasant, sunny climate. Snow falls high in the Troodos Massif early in the year. Winters are mild in the Mesaoria Plain, but temperatures may rise above 100 °F (38 °C) in summer. Rainfall on the plain averages from 12 to 16 inches (30 to 41 centimeters) a year. Parts of the Troodos receive over 40 inches (100 centimeters). Statistical analysis of rainfall in Cyprus reveals a decreasing trend of rainfall amounts in the last 30 years.
Economy
The Greek Cypriot section has a higher standard of living and a stronger economy than does the Turkish Cypriot section. The United Kingdom is the chief trading partner of the Republic of Cyprus.
The economy of both sections of Cyprus depends on agriculture, light manufacturing, services, and tourism. Chief farm products include barley, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, olives, oranges, potatoes, and wheat. Factories produce cement, cigarettes, clothing, furniture, plastic, shoes, textiles, and wine. Tourists visit the island's mountain resorts, glistening beaches, and archaeological sites. The economy in the north relies extensively on aid from Turkey.
Cyprus has few natural resources. Copper was produced in large quantities in the past, but resources of this mineral are dwindling. Cyprus's other natural resources include clay and gypsum.
International airports at Larnaca and Paphos serve the Greek Cypriot section. Larnaca and Limassol are the chief ports. The Turkish Cypriot controlled-area has airports at Tymbou (Ercan) and Lefkoniko (Gechitkale) serving flights exclusively to Turkey. The main ports are Kyrenia (Girne) and Famagusta (Gazimagusa). The Republic of Cyprus considers all ports and airports in the north as illegal.
History
People have lived on Cyprus since about the 6000's B.C. Greek settlers arrived on the island about the 1100's B.C. Before the time of Christ, the Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Macedonians, and Romans conquered Cyprus. Saint Paul and Saint Barnabas brought Christianity to the island shortly before A.D. 50.
When the Roman Empire split into two parts in A.D. 395, Cyprus became part of the East Roman, or Byzantine, Empire. From about the mid-600's to the late 900's, Muslim Arabs conducted a series of raids on the island. In 1191, King Richard I of England seized Cyprus from the Byzantine Empire and sold it to a Christian religious order called the Knights Templars. The following year, the Templars transferred control of the island to Guy de Lusignan, a French nobleman.
In 1489, Venice took control of Cyprus. During 1570 and 1571, the Ottoman Empire conquered the island. In 1878, the United Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire signed an agreement that allowed the United Kingdom to administer Cyprus. The United Kingdom annexed the island in 1914, when the Ottomans joined the opposing side during World War I. Cyprus became a British crown colony in 1925.
Photo: The Venetian walls of Nicosia (Credit Marc P. Berenson)
The British introduced educational, administrative, social, and economic reforms. But the United Kingdom also encouraged divisions between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots as a way of keeping the groups from uniting against British rule. Eventually, Greek nationalists called for enosis (union with Greece), and Turkish Cypriots demanded taksim (partition of the island into Greek and Turkish zones).
In the 1950's, Greek Cypriots, under the leadership of Archbishop Makarios III, started an active campaign for enosis. A Greek Cypriot secret organization called EOKA began guerrilla attacks on the British—and later against the Turkish Cypriots who aligned with the British to suppress the rebellion. The United Kingdom declared a state of emergency on the island in 1955 and exiled Makarios in 1956. The Cyprus crisis contributed to deterioration of relations between Greece and Turkey, and the two Cypriot communities.
In 1959, Greece, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and leaders of the two Cypriot communities signed the Zurich-London Agreements. The agreements granted Cyprus independence on Aug. 16, 1960. They also stated that Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom could act together or separately to prevent either enosis or partition of the island. The United Kingdom retained two military bases on the island.
The 1960 Constitution provided for a Greek president and a Turkish vice president, each elected by their respective communities. Makarios became president. In 1963, he suggested 13 proposals for amending the Constitution, arguing that they would result in better administration of the country. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leaders opposed the changes, arguing that the changes would eliminate many of the Turkish Cypriots' rights and safeguards. Fighting broke out between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The violence ended Turkish Cypriot participation in the Cyprus government in 1963. In 1964, the United Nations (UN) sent a peacekeeping force to Cyprus. In 1967, another clash between the two groups caused a new crisis. The Turkish-controlled areas set up new, separate governing bodies.
On July 4, 1974, Greek officers with the support of the military leaders ruling Greece overthrew Makarios. On July 20, Turkey sent troops to Cyprus to prevent what it saw as an attempt by the Greek Junta to unite Cyprus with Greece. Widespread fighting occurred between the Turks and Greek Cypriots, and the Turks captured large amounts of territory in northeastern Cyprus. A cease-fire was declared in August. Since then, the Turkish-controlled and Greek Cypriot areas of the island have been divided by a buffer zone called the "green line" or "Attila line." UN peacekeeping troops patrol the zone today. United Nations resolutions have called Turkey to withdraw its troops and allow displaced persons to return to their homes in safety. Approximately 165,000 Greek Cypriots and 45,000 Turkish Cypriots were displaced in 1974.
Representatives of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and of Greece and Turkey, have met off and on since 1974 in an effort to reach new constitutional arrangements for all of Cyprus. But strong disagreements over control of the country remain. In 1975, Turkish Cypriot leaders declared the northeastern territory an autonomous (self-governing) region called the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriots unilaterally declared the territory an independent nation called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
In 1998, Cyprus began a formal process toward becoming a member of the European Union (EU). The prospect of EU membership triggered UN-led reunification talks in 2002 and early 2003 between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders. However, the two sides failed to agree on a peace plan. In April 2003, the Turkish Cypriot leadership lifted restrictions on travel across the green line. This move allowed both Greek and Turkish Cypriots to cross the line for the first time since the island's division in 1974.
In early 2004, reunification talks resumed between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders. Although the leaders again failed to reach agreement, they allowed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to prepare a plan for reunification. In April 2004, a referendum on Annan's plan was held in both parts of the island. By the time the Turkish government agreed to a referendum, Cyprus had officially secured its entry to the European Union. Turkish Cypriot voters approved the plan, but Greek Cypriot voters rejected it hoping for an improved settlement after accession to the EU.
Photo: For the first time in the recent history of Cyprus two moderate leaders Demetris Christofias (left) and Mehmet Ali Talat (right) are representing the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities respectively in the negotiations (Credit: Associated Press).
As a result, reunification did not take place. The following month, Cyprus formally joined the EU. However, the benefits of EU membership applied primarily to the Greek portion of the island. The northern part is officially part of the EU, however, the acquis communautaire (the European body of law) does not apply there. Turkish Cypriots have or can obtain the citizenship of the Republic of Cyprus which entitles them to travel and work in Europe, however, the northern part of the island cannot initiate direct trade and flights to third countries. Following the 2004 referendum, the Turkish Cypriots have argued for further economic and political integration of the northern part of the island with the EU.
As a member of the EU, Cyprus has the right to veto the accession of other countries to the European Union. Turkey applied to join the European Union in 1989 and signed a custom union in 1996. Turkey started formal negotiations to become a full member in 2005. The Cyprus government threatened to veto Turkey’s accession but refrained from doing so despite Turkey’s refusal to extend full diplomatic recognition to the republic. EU members decided to slow down accession talks in December 2006 after Turkey’s reluctance to open its ports and extend trade privileges to the Republic of Cyprus. Efforts to reunify Cyprus have resumed after the election of moderate Demetris Christofias in the presidency of the Republic of Cyprus in February 2008.
Population
748, 217 Republic of Cyprus (government-controlled areas 2007 estimate)
264,172 in the northern part of the island (2006 Turkish Cypriot census)
A complete version of the Cyprus encyclopedia entry edited by Neophytos Loizides is forthcoming in The World Book Encyclopedia Project.
Other useful information about Cyprus and federalism can be found on the following links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1016541.stm
http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/www.cyprus-conflict.net/Table%20of%20Contents.html
http://www.friendsofcyprus.org.uk/
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cy.html
http://europa.eu/abc/european_countries/eu_members/cyprus/index_en.htm
http://www.aconstitutionalconventionforcyprus.ch/
http://www.forumfed.org/en/index.php