NationMaster - Statistics on Cyprus. facts and figures, stats and information on Cypriot economy, crime, people, government, health and education. 11 maps and 39 flags

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. The election of a new Cypriot president in 2008 served as the impetus for the UN to encourage both the Turkish and Cypriot Governments to reopen unification negotiations.

Alternative names:

Cyprus, Republic of Cyprus

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Maps of Cyprus

Cyprus	Cyprus - Ethnic Distribution	Land Use (132k)	Administrative Divisions (66k)
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COMMENTARY

Ashh_. 16th May 2006	Im doing a project on this country. its really interesting to learn about a country thats really small. Theres lots of information for a small country. Im really glad im doing this cool country.
Marcus Platrides 27th November 2005	It is doubtful if Turkey will have the ability let alone capacity to fulfill all the chapters. I believe Turkey has a very hard job to accomplish within the next 15 years. My guess is that they "if" they accepted in the union, this will be done in no more than 30 to 40 years.
Yahoo! 27th March 2005	Cyprus is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea south of Turkey. Site of an ancient Neolithic culture, the island was settled by Phoenicians c. 800 B.C. and thereafter fell successively to the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Macedonian Greeks, Egyptians again, and finally Romans (58 B.C.). The Byzantines controlled it from A.D. 395 until 1191, when it was captured by Richard I of England during the Third Crusade. Venice annexed it in 1489, Turkey conquered it in 1571, and Great Britain proclaimed its sovereignty in 1914. Cyprus became independent in 1960, but large-scale fighting between Greek and Turkish Cypriots led to the installment of a UN peacekeeping force in 1965. In 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus and established a separate Turkish state in the northern part. Nicosia is the capital and the largest city. Population: 734,000.
Augustus Ferlinghetti 21st March 2005	Although we Latin Cypriots are a small minority in Cyprus we are very much citizens. The information in your summary says it is a country of Southeast Europe, however it is in the Middle East section. Howcome?

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Middle East > Cyprus

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