Cyprus-Turkey Relations

History

The history of Cyprus-Turkey relations dates back to the 16th century, when Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1571. The Ottoman Empire ruled Cyprus for nearly 350 years, until it was transferred to British administration in 1878. In 1960, Britain granted independence to Cyprus.

Background

In 1963, Cyprus President Makarios III proposed changes to the country's constitution that would reduce the rights of Turkish Cypriots compared to the Greek community. This led to tensions between the two communities and ultimately resulted in the partition of the island along ethnic lines.

Current Status

As of 2023, Turkey does not officially recognize the independence of the Republic of Cyprus and accepts the claim of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on the entire island. Turkey is the only country that does not recognize Cyprus. The two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

Twin Cities

Despite the lack of diplomatic relations, there are agreements on twinning between Turkish and Cypriot cities. For example, Adana is twinned with Larnaca since 2011.

Comparison of General Data

| Category | Turkey | Cyprus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Capital | Ankara | Nicosia (de jure), Lefkoşa (de facto) |
| Population | approximately 84 million | approximately 1.2 million |

Ottoman Sovereignty (1571-1918)

During the 15th and 16th century, the Republic of Venice ruled large parts of Cyprus. In the 1960s, the young Ottoman Empire began to attack the island. Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1571, with 20,000 residents of Nicosia being executed, and all churches and public buildings being looted.

Greek War of Independence (1821-1832)

During this period, the Greek people struggled to gain independence from the Ottoman Empire that ruled Greece. Several Greek Cypriots participated in the war, but it had little impact on the island's relations with Turkey.

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