Cyprus

Location

• Cyprus is an Island in the Mediterranean Sea that is about the size of Connecticut.

ConflictGreeks Vs. Turks

• Greeks are the majority and occupy 2/3 of the Island

• Turks are the minority and occupy the remaining 1/3 of the Island

Conflict Background

• Cyprus has been controlled by a number of different countries over the years including the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, English during the crusades, Byzantines, Ottomans, and most recently by the British.

• The first large population were largely Greeks who were Orthodox Christians

• During the Ottoman rule, many Turkish Muslims settled on the island but allowed the non-Muslim groups to rule themselves which led to a strong unity among the Greek residents

Conflict increases

• Cyprus becomes part of the British Kingdom in late 1800s and many Turks leave during the 1920s

• Cyprus gains independence for Brittan in 1960 and there is a strong movement for Cyprus to become part of Greece

• The Turkish population resists this and in 1964 violence breaks out

• In 1974 the Greek government organizes an offensive to take over the government, and Turkey responds by sending in troops.

• The result was a divided Island

Current Status• Since 1974 the Island has been divided with a U.N.

peacekeeping force maintaining a buffer zone.• The Island remains divided and there is occasional

violence between the two sides• The Greek dominated government remains unstable.• Cyprus petitioned to become part of the European Union

but the EU would only admit them under the condition of a unified Island. Unification did not happen, However the Greek portion of the island was admitted into the EU in 2004

• The most recent peace talks to form a unified island were in July of 2006 but failed to reach an agreement.

Photos of Cyprus

Sources

• CIA world fact book

• US department of state http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5376.htm

• Infoplease. Pearson Education http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107447.html