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Cyprus

 Flag of Cyprus

Last reviewed: 20 August 2009

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HISTORY

Recent history

Under the 1878 Convention of Defensive Alliance between Britain and Turkey, Britain took over the administration of Cyprus from Turkey, although Turkey retained formal sovereignty. In 1914, when Turkey entered the First World War on the side of the Central Powers, Britain annexed Cyprus. British sovereignty was recognised by Turkey under the terms of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and Cyprus became a Crown Colony in 1925.

The Republic of Cyprus became independent in 1960. Greece, Turkey and the UK became joint Guarantor Powers of the Republic of Cyprus through the Treaty of Guarantee of that year. However, tension between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots increased and culminated in serious intercommunal fighting in December 1963. From then until 1974 there were occasional outbreaks of further violence and the Turkish Cypriot minority retreated into small enclaves. A UN force was established in 1964.

In 1974 Turkish troops landed in and occupied the northern part of Cyprus following a coup on the island by extremists against the elected President, which was backed by the military junta then in power in Greece. The island has been effectively partitioned ever since and approximately 36% of the territory of the Republic is not under the control of the Government. The 'Green Line' buffer zone was set up and continues to be patrolled by United Nations troops. The island remains divided. Successive UN Secretaries-General have made efforts to secure a settlement to end the division of Cyprus through intercommunal talks. A chronology of recent efforts to secure a settlement can be found in the section on politics.

Longer historical perspective

BBC News Country Timeline: Cyprus

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