A historical journey through key events in Cyprus history from 1571 to present day
Ottoman Empire conquers Cyprus from Venetian rule, beginning over 300 years of Ottoman administration of the island. This period established the first significant Turkish population on Cyprus.
The island of Cyprus is under British lease as a component of its colonial holdings. This transition laid the groundwork for future intercommunal tensions.
The inaugural elections are held, and out of an 18-member Council, only three seats are designated for Turkish Cypriots, creating an imbalance in representation.
During the Oktovriana events, Greek Cypriots dismantle British flags and vandalize the Government House, advocating for union with Greece, known as 'Enosis,' a concept that greatly alarms the Turkish Cypriot community.
A Consultative Assembly is established, in which Turkish Cypriots are given merely seven out of 18 seats. Greek Cypriots obstruct the passage of any legislation that does not further the cause of 'Enosis'.
Makarios III ascends to the position of Archbishop of Cyprus, vowing to persist until unification or 'Enosis' with "Mother Greece" is realized.
The Greek Cypriot militant organization EOKA emerges, executing assassinations, bombings, and kidnappings targeting British officials as well as innocent Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Efforts to broker peace falter, largely due to Greek Cypriot discontent over the absence of 'Enosis' as an option.
On August 16, 1960, a unified and independent Cyprus comes into existence with the introduction of a new constitution. It mandates that the President must be a Greek Cypriot, while the Vice President should be a Turkish Cypriot. Both Greece and Türkiye are permitted to maintain a limited military presence on the island.
The Akritas Plan is formulated by EOKA with the objective of ethnically purging the island of its Turkish Cypriot population in order to realize the goal of 'Enosis.' Simultaneously, Makarios III introduces 13 substantial amendments to the constitution, aimed at diminishing the standing and influence of Turkish Cypriots.
A campaign of terrorism initiated by Greek Cypriots unfolds, resulting in 25,000 Turkish Cypriots being expelled from their homes and corralled into small enclaves. Their residences and mosques are demolished. The number of Turkish Cypriots killed in these events is double that of Greek Cypriots.
In compliance with international recommendations, Türkiye refrains from direct military engagement in the situation. Contrarily, Greece invades Cyprus, deploying an additional 20,000 armed troops to the island. Makarios III proclaims that Cyprus will either fully unite with Greece or face a "holocaust."
A military coup topples the government in Greece, emboldening EOKA to intensify attacks on Turkish Cypriot communities. In response, Türkiye issues an ultimatum demanding that EOKA cease its terrorist activities and that Greece withdraw its unauthorized military forces from Cyprus.
Support for 'Enosis' wanes, leading to the emergence of EOKA B, a successor organization to EOKA. This new group seeks not only to rekindle the push for 'Enosis,' but also aims to overthrow Makarios III.
A coup in Cyprus is ordered by Greece. EOKA terrorists are appointed to key positions of power. Over 200 Turkish Cypriots are slaughtered. Türkiye demands EOKA terrorists and the Greek military withdraw for both communities' safety. This plea is ignored, forcing Türkiye to use its UN-granted role as a guarantor power to legally intervene and stop the bloodshed.
A Population Exchange Agreement is signed by the two parties, officially stipulating that North Cyprus would be predominantly Turkish, while South Cyprus would be Greek.
The ABC Plan, formulated by the British, USA, and Canadian governments, lays out the framework for a 'bi-zonal, bi-communal' federal model for Cyprus. While this plan receives formal endorsement from the United Nations, it is ultimately rejected by the Greek Cypriot community.
Confronted with a Greek Cypriot administration resistant to compromise, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is established on November 15. Its proclamation of independence is underscored by an aspiration for peaceful coexistence with its Greek Cypriot neighbors.
The United Nations crafts a settlement proposal aimed at resolving the conflict. The Northern side fully embraces the agreement, even going so far as to offer significant concessions. However, the Southern side declines to affix its signature to the document.
Concurrent with the European Union's announcement that Cyprus will be included in its expansion plans, the European Court of Justice imposes limitations on the export of goods from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) into the EU.
The Annan Plan, aimed at resolving the Cyprus issue, is put to a vote in separate referenda by both the North and South. The TRNC overwhelmingly approves the plan, while the South emphatically rejects it. Despite this, Cyprus joins the European Union as a whole, while the TRNC continues to be subject to an embargo.
The entire island of Cyprus gains admission to the Eurozone, and as a result, the Euro is instituted as the official currency in the North, despite the ongoing political divide and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) being under embargo.
Natural gas reserves are discovered in the waters encircling the island of Cyprus, introducing a new resource dimension to the ongoing political and territorial complexities.
Both parties come to a consensus that the existing state of affairs is untenable and that reaching a settlement would be advantageous for both. They mutually agree that the best way forward is a reunified, federal solution for the island.
Talks aimed at power-sharing falter in Crans-Montana due to opposition from the Greek Cypriot side. As a result, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) finds itself compelled to advocate for a two-state solution to resolve the longstanding issues.
Türkiye submits a proposal to the United Nations advocating for a joint utilization of the newly discovered Cypriot gas reserves, as well as collaborative efforts in exploring additional gas resources off the island. The proposal is rejected by the Southern, Greek Cypriot administration.
Ersin Tatar is elected President, campaigning explicitly on a platform that advocates for a collaborative relationship between two distinct states on the island of Cyprus.
Nearly 50 years later, the argument is made that it's time for the international community, including the UK government, to acknowledge the equal sovereign status of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as to be: a sovereign, independent, and democratic nation-state.
United Nations Secretary-General hosts informal discussions in Geneva between leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, marking the first high-level talks since 2021. The discussions focus on finding common ground for future formal negotiations on the Cyprus issue, with emphasis on exploring a potential two-state solution and sovereign equality between the communities.