Foreword In July 1974 Turkey invaded the Republic of Cyprus. This was in violation of the UN Charter and of fundamental principles of international law. The consequences of the military invasion and subsequent occupation of nearly forty percent of the sovereign territory of the Republic are still felt today. For almost five decades, Turkey’s aggression has continued unabated. With it came military occupation, forcible division, population displacement, ethnic segregation, massive violation of human rights, colonization, attempted secession, cultural destruction, and property usurpation. These conditions, imposed by Turkey, constitute an unacceptable situation that has persisted on the island since 1974. As pointed out by the President of the Republic, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, Turkey is the country which has installed in the occupied areas a separatist entity that is utterly subservient to it, and is now advancing its upgrade. Such aims and objectives are certainly relevant to Turkey’s regional aims and objectives in the wider area. “At the same time”, President Christodoulides remarks, “Turkey is a neighbouring country of Cyprus. We are fully aware that geography cannot change, but our wish is to have a neighbouring Turkey that respects international law and with which we can have good neighbouring relations, as we do with the rest of our neighbouring countries”. Today, Turkey, an aspiring member of the European Union, still stands guilty of international aggression against Cyprus, a member-state of the Union. The status quo of foreign military occupation and forcible division of an independent, sovereign state must be redressed by the international community. This informational booklet, updated for the present edition, is intended to introduce the reader to basic aspects of a major international issue, the Cyprus Question or Cyprus Problem, as it is commonly referred to, and to the prospects for a viable settlement in line with European norms and the rule of law. It is a brief guide to a protracted and seemingly intractable conflict that provides background information to help place the current situation and new developments in proper historical perspective. The more recent phase of the Cyprus problem, as it has developed since 1974, is dealt with in the first section, “Political Overview,” while the “Historical Background” to the issue is covered in the subsequent section of the booklet. The Cyprus Question| A brief Introduction 9
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