Turkey took over Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a perceived threat of annexation by Greece and protect the Turkish Cypriot minority on the island.
Extensive response
In 1974, Turkey intervened militarily in Cyprus to prevent what it saw as a potential coup by Greek Cypriots aimed at uniting Cyprus with Greece, known as Enosis. Additionally, Turkey aimed to protect the rights and safety of the Turkish Cypriot minority population on the island. The intervention resulted in the division of Cyprus into the Republic of Cyprus in the south, which is internationally recognized, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north, which is recognized only by Turkey.
According to a report by the United Nations, the Turkish invasion resulted in the displacement of approximately 165,000 Greek Cypriots and 45,000 Turkish Cypriots. The situation remains unresolved, with ongoing tensions and occasional incidents near the Green Line separating the two sides.
The Turkish perspective on the matter is that it acted in self-defense to protect the Turkish Cypriot population from aggression from the Greek Cypriot majority. In 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that “Turkey’s military presence on the island is aimed at preserving peace and stability in Cyprus,” while the Turkish Foreign Ministry has stated that the intervention was “legitimate and necessary,” and that “Turkey acted within its rights emanating from international law.”
Despite numerous attempts at reconciliation, the situation in Cyprus remains divided. A table below shows some key events in the history of the Cyprus conflict.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1960 | Cyprus gains independence from Britain |
| 1963-1964 | Inter-communal violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots |
| 1974 | Turkey intervenes militarily in response to a perceived threat of a Greek Cypriot coup and to protect Turkish Cypriots |
| 1983 | Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus unilaterally declares independence, recognized only by Turkey |
| 2004 | UN-sponsored referendum on reunification fails |
| 2017-2021 | Several rounds of UN-brokered talks fail to reach a resolution |
The issue of Cyprus remains a complex and sensitive topic. As former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan once stated, “Cyprus is not an easy problem. It has been with us over four decades. But as difficult as it may be, a solution is possible.”
Related video
This video covers the Cyprus Crisis of 1974 and deeply analyses the history of Cyprus. The Greek and Turkish communities had different plans for the island, and violence erupted regularly between them. The Greek Cypriot leadership was overthrown by Greek officers in support of the pro-enosis movement, leading to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, also known as the Cyprus peace operation, and the subsequent division of the island. The video discusses the list of demands made to Greece and the subsequent Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the events that followed after the adoption of Resolution 353, and how the Turkish forces were successful in occupying 40% of Cyprus during the 1974 crisis and splitting the island with the “Green Line”.
Additional responses to your query
The coup staged by the Athens’ junta against the elected government of President Makarios on , served Turkey as a pretext to impose its divisive plans against Cyprus. On , Turkey invaded Cyprus, violating all rules of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.
You will most likely be interested in this
Simply so, What happened to Cyprus after the Turkish invasion?
Answer: The Turkish invasion ended in the partition of Cyprus along the UN-monitored Green Line, which still divides Cyprus, and the formation of a de facto Autonomous Turkish Cypriot Administration in the north. In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) declared independence, although Turkey is the only country that recognises it.
People also ask, Why did Turkish Cypriots become a part of Turkey?
Answer: Turkish Cypriot identification with Turkey had grown stronger in response to overt Greek nationalism of Greek Cypriots, and after 1954 the Turkish government had become increasingly involved. In the late summer and early autumn of 1954, the Cyprus problem intensified.
Just so, Why is Turkey increasing its military presence on Cyprus? Answer to this: Turkey says it’s increasing its military presence on the island in response to Washington’s lifting of an arms embargo against the Greek Cypriot administration. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticized the United States Friday for its stance toward Greece, saying it has become a toy of Athens in the Cyprus dispute.
Does Turkey recognize Northern Cyprus? Turkey is the only country in the world that recognizes Northern Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot community of Varosha fled during the Turkish invasion, after which the Turkish military fenced off the area. It has been largely abandoned since. Two UN Security Council resolutions have addressed the issue.