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The Cyprus Question


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Military Invasion and Occupation by Turkey

On 15 July 1974, the military junta then ruling Greece, with the collusion of Greek Cypriot collaborators on the island, carried out a coup to overthrow the democratically elected government of Cyprus. On 20 July Turkey, using the coup as a pretext, and in violation of international codes of conduct established under treaties to which it is a signatory, invaded Cyprus purportedly to restore constitutional order. Instead, it seized 36,2% of the sovereign territory of the Republic in violation of the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law. Turkey’s military aggression against Cyprus continues unabated for more than three decades in spite of UN resolutions calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Cyprus.

The invasion and occupation had disastrous consequences: Thousands were killed and about 180.000 Greek Cypriots living in the north – over a third of the total population – were displaced from their homes. Another 20.000 were enclaved in the occupied area and gradually forced through intimidation and denial of their fundamental human rights to abandon their homes and seek refuge in the government-controlled area. Today, there are fewer than 500 enclaved people. Moreover, Turkish Cypriots from around the island were forced by Turkey and their leadership, to move to the occupied area in line with Turkey’s policy of ethnic segregation.

Some 1.400 Greek Cypriot civilians and soldiers are still missing since the invasion. Many were in Turkish custody and some were seen in prisons in Turkey and the occupied area before their disappearance. The fate of all but a few is still not known. Furthermore, the policy of transferring settlers from Turkey to the occupied areas has changed demographics to such an extent that these illegal settlers (more than 160.000) outnumber the Turkish Cypriots (89.200) by almost two to one. This has obvious significant social and political consequences for the Turkish Cypriots themselves, who repeatedly express their disapproval about the influx of settlers. As a result, thousands emigrated abroad.

The Turkish invasion and occupation caused an economic collapse in the northern part of the island, which until 1974 was the richest and most developed. Additionally, 70% of the island’s productive potential at the time of the invasion was lost and 30% of the population became unemployed. Much of the rich cultural heritage in the occupied areas has been destroyed and vandalised and places of worship have been desecrated. This crime has been perpetrated largely by the Turkish army and Turkish nationals and still goes on with the collusion of the occupying power.

UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, resolutions adopted by numerous other international organisations as well as decisions by international courts, reflect the universal condemnation of Turkey’s invasion and all subsequent acts of aggression against Cyprus; demand the return of the refugees to their homes in safety and the tracing of the missing persons; and call for respect for the human rights of all Cypriots as well as for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus. Moreover, the European Court of Human Rights has found the government of Turkey responsible for gross and systematic violations of human rights in Cyprus.

Successive rounds of UN-sponsored talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities since 1974 to resolve the Cyprus problem and reunite the country have been undermined by Turkey, which has sought a settlement that would leave Cyprus permanently divided. The government of Cyprus, and the Greek Cypriots, on the other hand, have been insisting on the genuine reunification of the island, its institutions and its economy.

On 24 April 2004, a proposal by the UN Secretary-General (Annan Plan V), for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, was put before the people of Cyprus for a vote in separate but simultaneous referenda by the two communities. A clear majority of 75,8 percent Greek Cypriots rejected the Plan because they felt that it was not balanced and did not meet their main concerns regarding security, functionality and viability of the solution. By their vote, Greek Cypriots rejected that particular and seriously flawed Plan, which was put before them, because it did not lead to the genuine reunification of the island and the reintegration of its people, institutions and economy. In contrast 64,9 percent of the Turkish Cypriot community voted in favour of the Plan.

The overwhelming defeat rendered the Annan Plan null and void. Nevertheless, the government of Cyprus has remained committed to the Secretary-General’s mission of good offices and to a sustained process that will facilitate a comprehensive settlement. It has therefore tried to revive the peace process to find a mutually acceptable solution that addresses the concerns of all the people of Cyprus.

Consistent with this outlook, on 8 July 2006, the President of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community signed an agreement on a “Set of Principles” for the solution of the Cyprus problem. They reaffirmed the commitment of the two communities to reunify Cyprus on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation and agreed on procedures to prepare the ground for comprehensive negotiations towards that end.

Despite the Turkish refusal to honour the 8 July Agreement, President Demetris Christofias sought, immediately after his election in February 2008, to revive the UN peace process for the reunification of Cyprus. He sought the cooperation of the Turkish Cypriot community and the reengagement of the international community in a supportive role.

The President’s initiatives led to the commencement, on 3 September 2008, of full-fledged direct negotiations between the two communities for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.


The President explained that:

“The principal players in this ongoing process are the leaders of the two communities. The process is being carried out in the framework of the United Nations, with the UN Secretary-General and his collaborators playing an assisting role. Bearing in mind the traumatic experiences we went through in 2004−with the process of tight deadlines and arbitration−we have made it clear to the international community that the leaders of the two communities will continue to be the primary interlocutors in the dialogue. In this way, we will all avoid repeating the mistakes of the recent past. We are pursuing a settlement by Cypriots for Cypriots, and this is understood by the international community as well.”

He also reiterated that the “foundations of an agreement are described in the High Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979, which provide for the transformation of the unitary state into a federal one.” Given that Cyprus is an EU member state, the President noted that “the solution must respect and implement the principles on which the European Union is founded.”

/Source: Cyprus at a Glance, Published by the Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus, 2011/


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Show details for Download materials:Download materials:


(1) The Cyprus Question: A brief Introduction(1) The Cyprus Question: A brief Introduction
(2) The Loss of a Civilisation - Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Occupied Cyprus (2) The Loss of a Civilisation - Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Occupied Cyprus





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