Divided Cyprus: 50 Years After the Turkish Invasion

The north and south of Cyprus mark 50 years since the Turkish invasion, which was triggered by a Greek-inspired coup. The conflict has roots in a 1963 dispute between Greek and Turkish Cypriots over governance. Despite EU membership and a long absence of violence, key issues like sovereignty, security, and property disputes remain unresolved.

This Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, an event that sparked celebrations in the north and mourning in the south. Triggered by a brief Greek coup, the invasion has left deep-seated issues unsolved.

The roots of the conflict trace back to 1963 when a tax dispute between Greek and Turkish Cypriots escalated into a wider governmental conflict. Violence broke out in December 1963, prompting the creation of a U.N. peacekeeping mission. Turkish Cypriots moved into enclaves, leading to the de facto partition of Nicosia, Cyprus's capital.

Ankara cited its rights as a guarantor of Cyprus's sovereignty to justify its invasion in July 1974, following the coup that toppled Cyprus's legitimate government. This intervention led to the collapse of Greece's military dictatorship but left Turkey in control of northern Cyprus. Despite Cyprus joining the EU in 2004, the island remains divided with significant unresolved issues such as sovereignty, governance, and property disputes.

(With inputs from agencies.)