Cyprus

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Western Asia with Cyprus in red. Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey, in the Middle East. It was a British colony until 1960, when it became independent following years resisting British authority. The majority of the population is of Greek descent, the minority of Turkish descent.

Tensions between the two ethnic populations climaxed in 1963, when there were violent clashes in the capital, Nicosia. The United Nations sent peacekeepers in 1964, which had the effect of driving the Turkish minority of citizens into small enclaves scattered throughout the island. In 1974 the Greek government attempted to seize control over the entire island, but Turkey intervened militarily, and the situation ended with Turkey controlling the eastern half of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held part of the island began calling itself the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (TRNC), but only Turkey recognizes it.

The United Nations has brokered peace talks in several rounds since 1983, but the dispute has not been resolved. The entire island entered the European Union (EU) in 2004, but EU rights and obligations do not apply in the regions controlled and administered by Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots who can prove they are legally eligible to be citizens of the Republic of Cyprus enjoy the same rights as citizens of other EU states. A new Cypriot president was elected in 2008 and the United Nations has urged both sides to reopen negotiations to unite the island.

The total area of Cyprus is 9,250 square miles, which is about the size of the state of Connecticut. The climate is Mediterranean, and it is subject to some earthquake activity and drought. The population is 792,604 (July 2008 estimated), of which 77% are of Greek ethnicity and 18% are of Turkish ethnicity. Religions are Greek Orthodox (78%), Muslim (18%), and other (4%). Greek, Turkish and English are the languages spoken.

The government of the government-controlled portion of the island is a republic, having a president, a unicameral legislature, and a Supreme Court. (The Turkish-controlled portion of the island also has a Supreme Court).

Major industries are tourism, real estate, agriculture, textiles, ship repair, clay and gypsum.

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