Cyprus vs. Turkey

1974 - ongoing by 2011

Core issue: After Greece overthrew the Cypricot government, Turkey decided to intervene
based on the 1960's Treaty of Gurantee. Conflict revolves around mutually accepted
political institutions and the perception of legitimate representation
in Cyprus between Greek and Turkish Cypriots

Type of conflict ending: Conflict ongoing by 2011

Since the annexation of Cyprus by the British Empire during WWI, the island, inhabited by Greeks, and a significant Turkish minority, has experienced sporadic events of ethnic violence. Cyprus gained independence in 1960 and the Turkish minority was granted extensive minority rights. Nevertheless, the relationship between the Greek majority and Turkish minority remained strained. UN peacekeeping forces divided the island between north and south along the "Green Line". In 1974, the right-wing junta of Greece overthrew the government of Cyprus and attempted to assassinate its leader, President Makarios. The new government, under Nikos Sampson, attempted to achieve enosis, the political union between the island and the Greek motherland which resulted in a crisis. The coup prompted Turkey to invade Cyprus using the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee as justification. The invasion caused a massive refugee crisis as nearly a third of the Greek Cypriot population living in the north was forced to move south, and Turkish Cypriots moved from the south to the north. Turkish forces on the island confiscated property from former Greek towns and encouraged Turkish settlers from mainland Anatolia to inhabit these areas, which remains until today a divisive issue that hinders a peace agreement. The island remains divided and UN forces are still guarding the "Green Line".

Since the 1974 crisis, there have been several attempts aimed at creating a lasting peace deal. The envisioned deal should create a reunited, bicommunal Cyprus with two autonomous areas in the north and south, but both sides have different interpretations of such a reunion. The core issue revolves around the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. Other obstacles to a peace deal include the issues of financial compensation for property, the right of return for refugees, and the right of Turkey to intervene in the affairs of Cyprus.

The conflict was further complicated in 1983, when the north declared its independence from the south as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognized by Turkey. Another complication was Cypriot membership in the EU, which the northern government opposed until Turkey would also be admitted. The EU accepted the Republic of Cyprus in 2004 with some officials hoping that EU membership would prompt a peace deal. Significant progress was made during the Annan Plan negotiations to create a bicommunal republic, but when put to a referendum in 2004, the deal was only accepted by the Turkish north and rejected by the Greek south. Since the Annan Plan, there have been repeated bilateral negotiations between the south and north, some under UN auspices, but each has failed to resolve the core issue.

Sources

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Dagli, Ilke. 2017. "The Cyprus Problem: Why Solve a Comfortable Conflict?" Oxford Research Group. https://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/blog/the-cyprus-problem-why-solve-a-comfortable-conflict (accessed 21 July 2018).

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