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Latest update:
08/06/2009 18:17 +0300
History
of Cyprus:
CYPRUS |
HISTORY |
GEOGRAPHY & ORIENTATION |
PRACTICAL GUIDE
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| Neolithic
settlement of Khirokitia |
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Cyprus' civilisation,
according to archaeological evidence, goes back 11.000 years
to the 9th millennium BC (early Neolithic Period or Stone
Age). The island acquired its Greek character after it was
colonised by the Mycenaean-Achaean Greeks between the 13th
and 11th century BC. In the mid- 9th century BC Phoenician
settlers began to arrive, concentrating mainly in the
coastal city of Kition. Subsequently Cyprus came, in turn,
under Assyrian, Egyptian and Persian domination (8th – 4th
century BC). It became part of the Roman Empire between 30
BC and 330 AD.
However, it retained its
Greek identity and, as part of the Hellenistic state of the
Ptolemies (310-30 BC) and of the Greek-speaking world of
Byzantium (330 AD-1191), its ethnic heritage was kept alive.
The Greek language and culture also prevailed throughout the
centuries that followed even though Cyprus came under the
rule of successive foreign powers – King Richard I (the
Lionheart) of England and the Knights Templar (1191-1192),
the Franks (Lusignans) (1192-1489), Venetians (1489-1571),
Ottoman Turks (1571-1878) and British (1878-1960).
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| Terracota figurine
of horse and rider (7th c. BC) |
Marble statue of
Aphrodite (1st c. BC) |
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The Greek Cypriots mounted
an anti-colonial liberation struggle against British rule
from 1955 to 1959. In 1960 Cyprus gained its independence
and became a constitutional Republic. Greece, Turkey and
Britain were to stand as guarantors of the country’s
independence under the Zurich-London agreements and Britain
would retain two sovereign base areas. Political power was
to be shared between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots on a 7:3
ratio. This gave the Turkish Cypriot community (a numerical
minority of 18% of the population) 30% representation in the
Government and state institutions. In addition, the Turkish
Cypriot community had veto rights on major issues.
Relations between the two
communities had for centuries been peaceful and amicable.
However, certain provisions of the Zurich-London agreements
and the 1960 Constitution were to prove conducive to
domestic conflict and foreign interference. The Constitution
itself emphasised differences between Greek and Turkish
Cypriots thereby encouraging divisive rather than
integrative tendencies between the two communities. Greek
Cypriots were determined to strengthen the unity of the
state but the Turkish Cypriot leadership, at the strong
urging of Turkey, sought ethnic segregation and geographic
separation. This led to brief intercommunal clashes during
1963 to1967, air attacks and threats to invade by Turkey.
Turkish Cypriots ceased to participate in the government,
the legislature and civil service.
UN sponsored intercommunal talks to reach a settlement were
held during 1968-1974. Intercommunal tensions subsided and
violence virtually disappeared during this period.
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| Byzantine church
of Panayia Phorriotissa of Asinou (11th-12th c. AD) |
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On 15 July 1974 the military
junta then ruling Greece sponsored 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 territory of the Republic in the north – an act
universally condemned as a gross violation of international
law and the UN Charter. Turkey, only 74 kms (45 miles) away
has since defied many UN resolutions demanding the
withdrawal of foreign troops from the island.
The invasion and occupation
had disastrous consequences. Thousands were killed and more
than 162.000 Greek Cypriots living in the north – over a
quarter of the population – were driven from their homes and
became refugees. This number includes 20.000 Greek Cypriots
enclaved in the occupied area who were gradually forced
through intimidation and denial of their fundamental human
rights to abandon their homes and find refuge in the
government–controlled area. Today there are only about 500
enclaved people. Seventy per cent of the productive
potential of the island was lost and 30% of population
became unemployed. Turkish Cypriots were forced to move to
the occupied area in line with Turkey’s policy of ethnic
segregation.
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| Famagusta Gate
in Nicosia |
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Some 1.474 Greek Cypriot
civilians and soldiers disappeared during and after 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 handful is still not
known as Turkey is unwilling to investigate their
whereabouts. Furthermore, the policy of bringing settlers
from Turkey to the occupied areas has changed demographics
to such an extent that these illegal settlers (more than
160.000) outnumber the Turkish Cypriots (about 88.000) by
almost two to one.
Much of the rich cultural
heritage in the occupied areas has been destroyed and
vandalised and places of worship have been desecrated.
A series of UN General
Assembly and Security Council resolutions, as well as
resolutions adopted by numerous other international
organisations, reflect the universal condemnation of
Turkey’s invasion and all subsequent acts of aggression
against Cyprus; demand the return of the refugees to their
homes in safety and the tracing of the missing persons; and
call for respect for the human rights of all Cypriots as
well as for the independence, sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Cyprus. Moreover, the European Court of Human
Rights has found the government of Turkey responsible for
gross and systematic violations of human rights in Cyprus.
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| The signing of
the Treaty for the Establishment of the Republic of
Cyprus, 15/16 August 1960. |
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Successive rounds of
UN-sponsored talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot
communities since 1974 to resolve the Cyprus problem and
reunite the country have been undermined by the Turkish side
which has sought a settlement that in effect would leave
Cyprus permanently divided and hostage to foreign interests.
The Greek Cypriots, on the other hand, have been insisting
on the genuine reunification of the island and its people.
The latest UN effort
resulted in the presentation of a plan by the
Secretary-General for a comprehensive settlement of the
Cyprus problem. On 24 April 2004 the people of Cyprus were
asked to approve or reject, through separate, simultaneous
referenda by the two communities, the UN Secretary-General’s
proposal (Annan Plan V). A clear majority of 75,8% Greek
Cypriots rejected the proposed Annan Plan because they felt
that the finalised text, which incorporated arbitrarily many
last minute demands by Turkey, was not balanced and did not
meet their main concerns regarding security, functionality
and viability of the solution. By their vote the Greek
Cypriots obviously did not reject the solution to the Cyprus
problem which remains their primary goal. They only rejected
the particular plan which was put before them. Moreover,
they have not turned their backs on their Turkish Cypriot
compatriots who approved the plan by 64,9%. On the contrary,
they have been working towards a solution that will meet the
expectations of both communities.
The "no" vote in the
referendum should be interpreted as a legitimate expression
of the real concerns that led to the rejection of a
seriously flawed plan which, among other weaknesses, did not
provide for:
- The removal of the
foreign troops and settlers from Cyprus and the
elimination of the right of foreign powers to
unilaterally intervene in Cyprus;
- Adequate guarantees to
ensure that the commitments undertaken by the parties
involved would be carried out;
- A property recovery
system that appropriately recognised the rights and
interests of displaced Greek Cypriots who were forced
from their homes in 1974, and a property compensation
arrangement that did not require Greek Cypriots to fund
their own restitution;
- The right of all
Cypriots to acquire property and to live wherever they
chose without restrictive quotas; and
- A functional government
without deadlocks or voting restrictions based on
ethnicity.
The Government of Cyprus
continues to work for the genuine reunification of Cyprus
and integration of its people and economy in the context of
a functional and viable settlement – a solution which will
bring peace, prosperity and a better future for all the
citizens of a united Cyprus within the EU.
Source:
Press and Information Office of the Ministry of the Interior
Cyprus |
History |
Geography & Orientation |
Practical Guide
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