Cyprus-Turkey tensions persist In July 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus. Now, on the 50th anniversary of a war that left it as the only occupied EU member, the island’s two communities could again rekindle the conflict EUROPE Greece Turkey Cyprus AFRICA UK sovereign base Paphos Mediterranean Sea Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Kyrenia Morphou Nicosia UN buffer zone* "Green Line" CYPRUS Akrotiri Limassol Republic of Cyprus Larnaca Dhekelia Famagusta Varosha 40km 25 miles 1950 1955-59: Ethnic conflict and armed campaign to end British colonial rule 1960 1963-1964: Greek and Turkish Cypriot violence. UNFICYP peacekeepers intervene 1970 Jul 15, 1974: Coup d’état by Cypriot National Guard, backed by Greece Jul 16: Ousted Archbishop Makarios (above), narrowly evades death and escapes via British base at Akrotiri Jul 20-Aug 18: Turkey launches military invasion of north-east Cyprus 1980 1983: Declaration of Independence by Northern Cyprus 1989: 200,000 refugees are denied access to their homeland 1990 2000-24 2004: Referendum on plan to reunite island rejected by Greek Cypriots Jul 2024: UNFICYP reports large-calibre weapons – machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades – deployed along buffer zone Sources: Associated Press, Middle East Monitor, UK Parliament Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS