MESSAGES PHOTOS GUESTBOOK VESTING DAY LI HISTORY LI RINGS FUNDRAISERS LI REUNITED WALLPAPER SITE TERMS/RULES CONTACT

3LI
1970
UN TOUR
OF
CYPRUS

 

Cyprus has been inhabited since 8000 BC and for much of its history has been a prosperous and growing island. Unfortunately, its location in the eastern Mediterranean, its natural beauty and its rich ore deposits has made it a very desirable and strategically important island.

Practically every major civilisation and military power has invaded, laid claim to or fought over this little land. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Ottomans and British, to name but a few, have ruled here. This has created a rich mix of people and religions. The Island population is predominantly Greek Orthodox but with a large Islamic population and a resilient Catholic community. These have roughly separated into two specific communities with the Muslims (the word used deliberately to affiliate themselves with the Ottoman empire) or Turkish Cypriots living predominantly in the north and the Greek Orthodox Christians or Greek Cypriots living in the south.

The islands recent troubles began with their independence for Britain in 1960. After a long and bloody terrorist campaign Britain allowed the island to declare independence on the 16th of August 1960. Since then there has been a series of conflicts and struggles that ended in the eventual division of the Island in 1974.

The so called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (not recognised by any nation but Turkey) and the Republic of Cyprus have existed in parallel for the last 30 years with very limited border crossing allowed and little trade between the two communities. Large numbers of Greek and Turkish soldiers are garrisoned on the island with the UN mission (United Nations Forces In Cyprus - UNFICYP) between them.

UNFICYP are here to keep the peace and maintain the status quo. The green line is today separated into 3 sectors numbered 1, 2 and 4. They hold respectively: Argentinean, British and Hungarian Slovakian peacekeepers.

Today Cyprus is moving rapidly onwards. The South of the Island has been granted permission to join the EU in May 2004 whilst Turkey is engaged in a bid to join.

On April 23rd 2003, the Northern Government announced the opening of the border predominantly around the Capital of Nicosia (Lefkosa/Lefkosia). This has allowed, for the first time in over 30 years, many displaced persons the opportunity to return to and visit their homes and businesses. It has also allowed dialogue between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots resulting in a growing realisation that old attitudes seem to be changing. There is now a palpable optimism in both communities that the partition of the island may at last be drawing to a close.