Cyprus – decades of division

The leaders of Cyprus are resuming UN-sponsored reunification talks in Geneva after hitting yet another impasse in November 2016

Self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Population: 313,626

Republic of Cyprus
Population: 871,501

UN buffer zone
AFRICA
EUROPE
Turkey
Greece
Cyprus
Larnaca
Dhekelia (UK)
Akrotiri (UK)
Kyrenia
Famagusta
Varosha
Limassol
Paphos
Nicosia

12 miles
20km

CHRONOLOGY (abridged)
1914: Cyprus formally annexed by Britain after 300 years of Ottoman (Turkish) rule

1955: Greek Cypriots begin guerrilla war against British rule, seeking unification with Greece

1960: Cyprus gains independence after Greek and Turkish Cypriots agree constitution

1963: President Makarios’ proposal to revoke power-sharing with Turkey leads to intercommunal  violence

1964: UN peace-keeping force set up

1974: Invasion of north by Turkish troops enforces partition along UN’s “Green Line” ceasefire line

1975: Turkish Cypriots establish independent administration, with Rauf Denktash as president

1983: Denktash proclaims Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) – only recognised by Turkey

Apr 2004: Turkish Cypriots vote to back UN reunification plan to gain EU entry – Greek Cypriots reject it

May 2004: Cyprus joins EU, but island remains divided

Apr 2003: Greek and Turkish Cypriots cross Green Line for first time in 30 years after Turkish Cypriot leaders ease border restrictions

1998: Greek Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides threatens to install Russian anti-aircraft missiles. Turkey threatens military action. Clerides backs down

Jun 2001: UN renews 36-year mission – 2,400 peacekeepers patrol buffer zone

Jan 2002: Clerides and Denktash begin UN-sponsored negotiations, focussing on European Union
membership
Jan 2017: President Nicos Anastasiades (L) and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci resume talks ahead of multilateral conference on future of Cyprus

Sources: BBC, UN, Wikipedia, Wire agencies
Pictures: Associated Press