 | Cyprus - Facts & Figures |
The core information on the people and their history, geography, politics, military, economy and statistics everyone needs to know about Cyprus, supplied by the CIA.
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| Introduction:
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Background:
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of
resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and
Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke
out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in
1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots
into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored
attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey,
which soon controlled more than a third of the island.
In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), but it is recognized only by Turkey. The latest
two-year round of UN-brokered talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot
and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided
island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an
April 2004 referendum.
The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the
body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under direct
government control, and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish
Cypriots. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their
eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights
accorded to other citizens of European Union states. Nicosia continues to oppose
EU efforts to establish direct trade and economic links to north Cyprus as a way
of encouraging the Turkish Cypriot community to continue to support
reunification.
This information comes from the CIA
World Factbook March 2008.
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