Cyprus / Turkish Republic of North Cyprus
Modified 11 July 2002
History of Cyprus, from
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5376.htm
and
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
-
364 --
Cyprus was ruled by Byzantium.
-
1100's --
Briefly ruled by Richard the Lion-Hearted.
-
Late 1100's --
Came under Frankish control
-
1489 --
Ceded to the Venetian Republic
-
1571 --
Conquered by the Ottoman Turks
-
1878 --
Ceded to Great Britain
-
1914 --
Formally annexed by the United Kingdom
-
1925 --
Became a Crown Colony of the United Kingdom
-
1960 --
Independence from the U.K. after a violent
anti-British campaign by the Greek Cypriot EOKA
(National Organization of Cypriot Fighters),
guerilla group using terror and
desiring enosis, or political union
with Greece.
Constitutional guarantees were extended to ethnic
Turkish Cypriot minority, although Greek Cypriot
majority argued that these were obstacles
to efficient government.
-
1963 --
Some constitutional guarantees to ethnic Turks were
eliminated.
End of ethnic Turk participation in government.
-
1964 --
UN peacekeepers deployed.
-
1974 --
Military junta controlling Greece sponsored a coup
led by extremist Greek Cypriots.
This was met with military intervention from Turkey to
protect ethnic Turks.
Turks fled north, Greeks fled south.
Turkey soon controlled the northern 40% of the island.
-
1983 --
Turkish-held area declared itself the
``Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'',
recognized only by Turkey.
-
Current situation --
A UN buffer zone divides the Greek and Turkish
sections,
and there are two UK sovereign military bases
mostly in the southern, Greek, section.
Pro-Greek views
Pro-Turk views
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