2. Location
• Cyprus is an Island in the Mediterranean
Sea that is about the size of Connecticut.
3. Conflict
Greeks Vs. Turks
• Greeks are the • Turks are the minority
majority and occupy and occupy the
2/3 of the Island remaining 1/3 of the
Island
4. Conflict Background
• Cyprus has been controlled by a number of
different countries over the years including the
Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, English during the
crusades, Byzantines, Ottomans, and most
recently by the British.
• The first large population were largely Greeks
who were Orthodox Christians
• During the Ottoman rule, many Turkish Muslims
settled on the island but allowed the non-Muslim
groups to rule themselves which led to a strong
unity among the Greek residents
5. Conflict increases
• Cyprus becomes part of the British Kingdom in late
1800s and many Turks leave during the 1920s
• Cyprus gains independence for Brittan in 1960 and there
is a strong movement for Cyprus to become part of
Greece
• The Turkish population resists this and in 1964 violence
breaks out
• In 1974 the Greek government organizes an offensive to
take over the government, and Turkey responds by
sending in troops.
• The result was a divided Island
6. Current Status
• Since 1974 the Island has been divided with a U.N.
peacekeeping force maintaining a buffer zone.
• The Island remains divided and there is occasional
violence between the two sides
• The Greek dominated government remains unstable.
• Cyprus petitioned to become part of the European Union
but the EU would only admit them under the condition of
a unified Island. Unification did not happen, However the
Greek portion of the island was admitted into the EU in
2004
• The most recent peace talks to form a unified island
were in July of 2006 but failed to reach an agreement.
8. Sources
• CIA world fact book
• US department of state
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5376.htm
• Infoplease. Pearson Education
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107447.html
