Cyprus is a small island in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, which for many centuries has been a tidbit for a wide variety of powers. The combination of a successful geographical position and rich cultural heritage turned it into a place of constant clashes and compromises. Today there is a unique situation: formally the state is called the Republic of Cyprus , but in fact the island is divided into two parts, and the separation itself has been going on for half a century. How did it happen and why modern Cyprus still cannot become one?
From "Great Greece" to the British colony
The history of the island is rooted in the depths of centuries. Due to the strategically important situation, Cyprus managed to win Assyria, and the Persians, and Byzantium, and the crusaders. However, two key heritage for the present was left by the Greeks and the Turks . The Greeks brought Orthodoxy and language, and the Ottoman rule in the XV-XIX centuries led to the fact that a significant part of the population began to make up the Muslims-Turks. Over time, these two communities - Greek and Turkish - finally took shape as individual nations with their traditions , faith and language.
In the 19th century, the weak Ottoman Empire transferred British Cyprus in exchange for military support against the Russian Empire. So the island was under the control of London . The position of Great Britain was pragmatic: thanks to the opening of the Suez Canal, trading routes were greatly reduced, and Cyprus became an important naval base to protect the interests of the British crown. However, the Greek Cypriots no longer reconciled with foreign management, having begun to fight for the idea of “ Enosis ” - the an island joining Greece . Turkish Cypriots, in turn, were afraid to be in a state where they would become a minority without special rights.
The path to independence and aggravation of conflict
After the Second World War, the colonial system of Britain began to rapidly collapse. Cyprus was no exception: the growing movement for independence resulted in an uprising of 1955, when the underground organization of Greek Cypriots of EOK began the struggle against the British troops. This rebel movement advocated an immediate connection to Greece . The Turkish community of the island, frightened for its safety and future, created a response structure - TMT (Turkish resistance movement). So the internal conflict grew into an armed confrontation, which lasted four years.
As a result, in order to prevent a full -scale war between the Greek and Turkish communities, as well as to avoid conflict between Greece and Turkey (both were already in NATO), the world powers agreed to a compromise. In 1960, Cyprus became an independent republic with a very complex political system of separation of power: the president-Greek, the vice president-the Turks, and many state institutions were formed in quotas for two communities. Great Britain , Greece and Turkey received the status of “guarantors”: each of these three countries had the right to intervene by force if it considers that the sovereignty or safety of Cyprus was in jeopardy.
However, the new republic did not manage to become truly uniform. Ethnic and political contradictions have been preserved, and the conflict turned into a “smoldering” format. Any provocation could again rekindle military operations. And so happened in December 1963 (called the Blood Christmas), when the shootout between Greek police and Turkish residents grew into new clashes throughout the island.
Turkish invasion and split of the island
In 1974, a military coup occurred in Greece , a junta of “black colonels” came to power. Hard radicals dreamed of "Great Greece" and decided to promote "Enosis" again. At Cyprus, they organized a conspiracy against the President of the Architect of Makarios, and he was forced to escape from the country. It seemed that the implementation of the Greek script was a matter of several days.
But Turkey , using the status of the “guarantor”, immediately introduced troops to the north of Cyprus to protect the Turkish community and stop an attempt to violent accession to Greece . Turkish forces quickly established control of the third islands. A small Cyprus overnight turned out to be split into two territories: the South, where the Republic of Cyprus the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRSK), headed by the charismatic lawyer Raur Denctash, was soon proclaimed Only Ankara ; The world community of legitimacy TRSK does not recognize so far.
As a result of these events, many Cypriots on both sides became refugees , people lost houses and property. The conflict was “frozen”, but was not resolved. The UN peacekeeping forces actually held a “green line” - a buffer zone separating the south and north.
Two sides of one island
After the split, the Republic of Cyprus was faced with the need to completely rebuild its economy: a significant part of agricultural land and important infrastructure remained under Turkish control. However, over time, the Greek South successfully found new sources of income- offshore financial services, tourism and IT industry . It was loyal taxation, favorable climate and orientation on attracting highly qualified specialists that made the southern part of Cyprus popular among programmers and data analysts from around the world.
In the Northern Cyprus, the economy, on the contrary, has been on the financial support of Turkey . TRSK is still unrecognized state, so it is not available to official international markets and direct cooperation with the European Union. The tourist sector, oriented mainly on Turkish visitors, is gradually developing, but compared to the south, insulation .
In 2004, the Greek part of the island joined the European Union . Then a serious attempt was made to combine Cyprus according to the “Annan Plan”, but the referendums in both communities did not come to a single decision. The Turkish Cypriots then mostly approved the idea of a single state, but the Greek ones voted against. So the hope of reunion scattered again.
Modern life and "convenient" conflict
Despite the strict contradictions in the past, in recent years the border between the north and south has significantly “softened”: several checkpoints have been opened, and thousands of residents regularly cross the buffer zone in both directions. Turkish Cypriots who have the right to receive a passport of the Republic of Cyprus also receive all the advantages of EU . The Greeks from the south sometimes go to the north to dentists and to shops where prices are significantly lower. There have been no serious manifestations of violence for a long time, and many representatives of the young generation of both communities look more likely to the future than the past.
Many experts call such a durable split “ convenient conflict ”: tension has disappeared, politicians regularly talk about a peaceful settlement, but no one is ready to take radical steps to finally solve the problem. Great Britain , Greece and Turkey are formally left by guarantees , but each of them is guided by its own interests. Attempts to hold a new referendum on the unification over and over again come to a dead end, and the inhabitants of Cyprus have already formed a relatively stable life on both sides of the Green Line.
Additional information for citizens of the Russian Federation
If you are a citizen of the Russian Federation and plan a trip to Cyprus , you can familiarize yourself with official information on the entry and exit on the website of the Russian Embassy in Cyprus (Cyprus.mid.ru). There you will find detailed explanations about visa and migration nuances, as well as recommendations for staying on the island.
Questions and answers
Question 1. What documents are required to get to the Republic of Cyprus ?
Answer:
- For entry, it is necessary to have a national Cyprus visa or a valid multiple Schengen visa .
- Before the trip, be sure to check the current requirements on the website of the Russian Embassy in Cyprus and on the official resource of the Republic of Cyprus .
Question 2. What is the best way to get to the northern Cyprus ?
Answer:
There are several ways:
- Aviation:
- Direct flight to Erjan from Turkey .
- (There are no direct flights from other countries.)
- Ferry:
- From the port of Tashuju in Turkey.
- Through the Republic of Cyprus:
- Larnaki or Paphos to the airports with the subsequent crossing of the border between the southern and northern parts of the island.
Important: Before the trip, specify the current rules, as they can change. Although officially the intersection of the Green Line is not approved, in practice there are usually no problems.
Question 3. Is it necessary to receive a separate visa for the northern Cyprus ?
Answer:
- For citizens of most countries (including Russia , Belarus and Kazakhstan ) a separate visa is not required - a tourist stamp is set on the border, which serves as a visa function.
- Exception: Citizens of Syria , Armenia and Nigeria need to pre -draw up a visa at the Embassy or Consulate TRSK abroad.
Question 4. Can I cross the border between the Republic of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus ?
Answer:
Yes, the border is open at several control points (checkpoints) , where you can freely move if there are current documents.
Note:
- Be sure to clarify the current rules, including regarding quarantine measures, if they act.
- more about the checkpoint in this article .
Question 5. What the advantages of the Passport of the Republic of Cyprus ?
Answer:
- The holder of the passport of the Republic of Cyprus becomes a citizen EUwhich means:
- Freedom of movement around the European Union.
- The right to work and study in Europe.
- The use of all the advantages of the EU resident for business and career .
- This is especially important for those who plan a long -term stay in Europe.
