United for Cyprus

Why Cyprus is Divided

 

Cyprus is a small island in the Mediterranean, 9,251 km2, with a population of  820,000 (700,000 were Greek Cypriots and 120,000 Turkish Cypriots).  The de facto TRNC controls an area of 37% (of which 57% of the coastline is occupied) and has a population of 400,000 among which are mostly imported Turkish settlers.   In addition, there are 43,000 Turkish troops stationed there.  The remaining 3% of the territory are the 2 British military bases.

 

On 15 July 1974, the military junta then ruling Greece, with the collusion of Greek Cypriot collaborators on the island, carried out a military coup to overthrow the democratically elected government of Cyprus under Archbishop Makarios III. A group of Cypriots who wanted the island to become part of Greece tried to kill the president and take over Cyprus. The attempted takeover did not work and the president escaped.

 

Turkish Invasion (forced and illegal island division)

 

On 20 July 1974, 0530 hours local time, the Turkish army invaded Cyprus, landing at 5-Mile point east of Kyrenia, in response to a coup d’état carried out by EOKA B (National Organisation of Cypriot Combatants) and the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, in violation of the UN Charter and fundamental principles of International and European Union Law to which it is a signatory, purportedly to restore constitutional order. Instead, it seized 37% (one third) of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Gaining ground against the local forces, the Turkish Army reached Kyrenia on 22 July 1974 during the UN-sponsored cease-fire. The majority of Greek Cypriot and Maronite Cypriot population and all of its Armenian Cypriot and Latin population fled from the advancing Turkish army to the southern part of the island. A small group of Greek Cypriots who tried to remain within Kyrenia were kept in the Dome Hotel until October 1975, after which they were taken to Bellapais village. Subsequently, Turkish Cypriots displaced from elsewhere in Cyprus and immigrants from Turkey moved in, with the result that the town's present ethnic composition is predominantly Turkish and Turkish Cypriot.

 

On the first invasion of 20 July 1974 Turkey secured an area around Kyrenia. In defiance of a UN Security Council resolution to withdraw its forces, Turkey mounted a second invasion on 14 August 1974. Within 2 days, Turkey had captured more than a third of the territory of Cyprus. About 200,000 Greek Cypriots, one-third of the total population at the time, were forcibly uprooted from the occupied northern part of the island where they constituted about 70 per cent of the population; they are still deprived of the right to return to their homes and properties. 5,000 were killed and 2,000 were reported missing.  The Turkish Cypriots living in the free areas were forced by their leadership to move to the occupied areas.

 

On the Occupied Cyprus side are razor wires, minefields and watch-towers every few hundred metres. A scene reminiscent of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain dividing East and West Germany.

 

Turkey’s military aggression against Cyprus continues unabated for 4 decades in spite of many UN resolutions calling for the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops from Cyprus, and an end to the occupation.

​

The Turkish Conquerer 

​

Turkey's continued objective is to make the occupied area of Cyprus part of Turkey, by changing the demographics.

​

​

USA Embargo on Turkey

​

The USA placed an embargo on Turkey following the invasion of Cyprus so that Turkey withdraws its troops.  The embargo was lifted during the Carter Administration, on the condition that every 6 months there will be a progress report.  Since 1978, reports were made that there was progress on the withdrawal of Turkish troops.  Yet the troops remain.