Cyprus at a Glance_EN

Military invasion and occupation by Turkey On 15 July 1974, the military junta then ruling Greece, with the collusion of Greek Cypriot collaborators on the island, carried out a coup to overthrow the democratically elected government of Cyprus. On 20 July, Turkey, using the coup as a pretext and in violation of international codes of conduct established under treaties to which it is a signatory, invaded Cyprus purportedly to restore constitutional order. Instead, it seized 36,2% of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Cyprus in violation of the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law. Turkey’s military aggression against Cyprus continues unabated for more than four decades in spite of UN resolutions calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Cyprus. The invasion and occupation had disastrous consequences: Thousands were killed and about 180.000 Greek Cypriots living in the north – over a third of the total population – were displaced from their homes. Another 20.000 were enclaved in the occupied area and gradually forced through intimidation and denial of their fundamental human rights to abandon their homes and seek refuge in the government-controlled area. Today, there are about 410, mostly elderly, enclaved people. Moreover, Turkish Cypriots from around the island were forced by Turkey and their leadership, to move to the occupied area in line with Turkey’s policy of ethnic segregation. Some 1.400 Greek Cypriot civilians and soldiers went missing during the invasion. Many were in Turkish custody and some were seen in prisons in Turkey and the occupied area before their disappearance. The fate of all but a few is still not known because Turkey refuses to cooperate fully in resolving this humanitarian issue. Furthermore, the policy of transferring settlers from Turkey to the occupied areas has changed demographics to such an extent that these illegal settlers outnumber the Turkish Cypriots by almost two to one. This has obvious significant social and political consequences for the Turkish Cypriots themselves, who repeatedly express their disapproval about the influx of settlers. As a result, thousands emigrated abroad. The Turkish invasion and occupation caused an economic collapse in the northern part of the island, which until 1974 was the richest and most developed. Additionally, 70% of the island’s productive potential at the time of the invasion was lost and 30% of the population became unemployed. 18