Cyprus

Non-Aligned Movement

**Cyprus**, officially the **Republic of Cyprus**, is an island country situated in the Mediterranean Sea. It lies between the continental mainlands of Europe and Asia, being culturally and geopolitically placed in Southeast Europe. Cyprus is the third-largest and third-most populous island in the Mediterranean. It shares a land border with the British Overseas Territory of Akrotiri and Dhekelia; otherwise, Cyprus is located north of Egypt, east of Greece, south of Turkey, and west of Lebanon and Syria. Since the Turkish Invasion of 1974, Cyprus exerts no de-facto control of its northeasternmost territory, which is administered by the internationally disputed state of Northern Cyprus, and considered by the United Nations to be under the illegal occupation of Turkish troops. Nicosia serves as Cyprus' capital and largest city, followed by Limassol.

Cyprus boasts a very ancient history, with evidence of human activity dating back to around the 10th millennium BC, including some of the world's oldest water wells. The island's most prominent Neolithic settlement is Khirokitia, notable for being proof of the existence of structured societies residing in fortified villages and practicing communal farming. Cyprus was settled by Mycenaean Greeks in the 2nd millennium BC, leaving a lasting impact on its culture, language, and architecture. To this day, the majority of Cypriots identify as ethnic Greeks, and Cyprus is the only country, aside from Greece, where Modern Greek is an official language.

As a strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus thrived in the Bronze Age due to its abundant copper resources, fostering a prosperous bronze industry. Following the Bronze Age Collapse, the island was contested and occupied by various ancient powers. Cyprus successively came under the rule of the Assyrians, Egyptians, and Persians, organized into ten autonomous city-kingdoms. These city-kingdoms aided the Greeks during the Greco-Persian Wars and ultimately aligned with Alexander the Great, joining his empire in 333 BC. Cyprus subsequently formed part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom until its annexation by Rome in 58 BC. Over the next thousand years, the island was part of the Roman and later Eastern Roman Empire. During this era, the Church of Cyprus was established as a religious institution firmly rooted in tradition, playing a pivotal role in shaping Cyprus into a prominent hub for Eastern Orthodoxy and Byzantine culture. The French Lusignan dynasty established the medieval Kingdom of Cyprus following the Third Crusade, which was then sold to the Venetians in the late 15th century, from whom Cyprus was subsequently conquered by the Ottomans in 1571.

Under Ottoman rule, Cyprus saw economic and cultural decline, along with the emergence of Greek nationalism following the Greek War of Independence in 1821, and the establishment of an ethnically Turkish community on the island. Cyprus was secretly placed under the United Kingdom's administration based on the Cyprus Convention of 1878 and was formally annexed by the U.K. in 1914. During British rule, the Greek Cypriot community, which comprised 77% of the island's population, sought to unite Cyprus with Greece (*Enosis*), while the Turkish Cypriot minority of 18% initially favoured British rule and later the partition of Cyprus.

Following a war of independence, Cyprus emerged as a sovereign state in 1960. The crisis of 1963–64 saw escalating intercommunal violence between Greeks and Turks, leading to the withdrawal of Turkish Cypriots from political and other state institutions, and the displacement of more than 25,000 Turkish Cypriots into enclaves. On 15 July 1974, a coup was staged by Greek dictator Dimitrios Ioannidis, supported by Greek Cypriot ultranationalists and mutineers in the Cypriot National Guard, in an attempt at *Enosis*. This precipitated the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on 20 July, which displaced over 150,000 Greek Cypriots and 50,000 Turkish Cypriots. The military occupation of northeastern Cyprus culminated in the unilateral declaration of a separate Turkish Cypriot state in 1983; the move was widely condemned by the international community, with Turkey alone recognising the new state. These events and the resulting political situation are matters of continuing dispute.

Today, the Republic of Cyprus is a democracy with an advanced, high-income economy and a very high Human Development Index. It has been a member of the Commonwealth since 1961 and was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement before joining the European Union in 2004, adopting the euro in 2008. Owing to its climate, scenic beauty, and cultural heritage, Cyprus is a major tourist destination in the Mediterranean.

## History

Cyprus has been inhabited since the 10th millennium BC, with some of the earliest evidence of human activity on the island coming from the Neolithic period. The island was inhabited by various ancient civilizations, including the Mycenaean Greeks, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, and Persians.

During the classical era, Cyprus was conquered by Alexander the Great and was later ruled by the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt, who established the city of Paphos as their capital.

In 58 BC, Cyprus became a Roman province and remained under Roman rule until the 4th century AD. During this time, Christianity spread throughout the island, and Saint Paul is said to have visited the island on his way to Rome.

In the 4th century AD, Cyprus became part of the Byzantine Empire, and the island became an important center of Christianity. During this time, many religious buildings were constructed, including the Monastery of Saint Neophytos in Paphos.

In the 12th century, Richard the Lionheart of England conquered Cyprus during his crusade to the Holy Land. The island was then sold to the Knights Templar and later to the Lusignan dynasty, who ruled the island until the Ottoman Empire conquered it in 1571.

During the Ottoman rule, Cyprus was placed under the administration of the Turkish Empire and remained under their control until the late 19th century. During this time, the island's population grew and trade flourished.

In 1878, the Ottoman Empire was forced to lease Cyprus to the British Empire. During British rule, the island became an important center for trade in the Eastern Mediterranean and saw significant economic growth.

Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960 and became a republic. However, tensions between the island's Greek and Turkish communities led to a series of conflicts. In 1974, Turkey invaded and occupied the northern part of the island, leading to the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The island remains divided to this day, with the southern part of the island being a member of the European Union and the northern part being recognized only by Turkey. In conclusion, Cyprus has a rich and fascinating history dating back to ancient times. The island's strategic location has attracted many powerful civilizations, and it remains an important center for trade and commerce in the Mediterranean today.