Cyprus

{{countrybox|Republic of Cyprus
|flag = Flag_of_Cyprus.svg
|pop =1,104,000
|GDP =22,752
|GDPPC = 28,237
|life =79
|dev =0.81
|dem =7.29
|cor =6.3
|edu =0.91
|rel =75
}}
'''Cyprus''' is an island off the southern Turkish coast, in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. At the moment, it's divided into two entities: the '''Republic of Cyprus''' to the south (commonly associated with the name "Cyprus"; a member of the [[European Union]] and internationally recognized) and the '''[[Turkish Republic of North Cyprus]]''' ('''TRNC''') to the north (recognized by [[Turkey]] and nobody else).

It is one of the most religious countries in the EU.<ref>See page 204 of this [http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf Eurobarometer biotechnology report></ref>, and as a result it is deeply [[racist]], [[sexist]], and [[homophobia|homophobic]].<ref>[http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/cyprus/review_2013 ILGA annual review 2013]</ref><ref>[http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/368-FRA-hdgso-part2-NR_CY.pdf The social situation concerning homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in Cyprus] by the [http://www.humanrights.dk/ Danish institute for human rights], March 2009</ref>

Cyprus was a disaster in the [[European sovereign debt crisis]]; one must wonder how it even got into the Eurozone with an economy consisting almost entirely of [[Russian]] [[oligarch]]s who store their cash there because they'd rather store their cash in a warm place than a cold place like [[Switzerland]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21916102 Cyprus bailout: Deal reached in Eurogroup talks], [[BBC]] News, 25 March 2013</ref>

== A Tale of Two Cypruses ==
[[File:Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.svg|thumb|left|250px|Flag of the "other" Cyprus, totally not mimicking Turkey. Nope.]]
This division happened in a failed [[Greece|Greek]] attempt to establish a puppet state in Cyprus, using ethnic clashes between Turks and Greeks. Turkey invaded Cyprus (using the rights given to them by the {{wpl|Treaty of Guarantee (1960)|Treaty of Guarantee}}, signed between Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, and erstwhile colonial power the [[United Kingdom]]) to stop this attempt and successfully overthrew the puppet state, which actually caused the end of the [[junta|military junta]] in [[Greece]] (yay!). Yet they kind of refused (and still refuse) to leave when they were done, citing [[Bullshit|"security reasons"]] (boo!).{{fact}}

[[Northern Cyprus]] was founded under the Turkish invasion, despite strong opposition by [[Britain]] and the whole [[United Nations]]. The Turkish government recognized them immediately and sent (mostly under-educated and unqualified) people there as laborers 
and deliberately modified the ethnic structure in their favor
. These policies caused strong anti-Turkish sentiment in Cyprus (even in the North, despite people there being Turkish).{{fact}} The irony is that Northern Cyprus is a de facto Turkish puppet state and is only recognized by Turkey.

Nowadays, Northern Cyprus has become the Turkish version of Las Vegas, with all that [[gambling]] and [[prostitution]]. It is also a [[tax haven]] and a place for criminals to escape from Turkish laws, all thanks to a lack of legal infrastructure.{{fact}}

Additionally, a UN-controlled buffer zone separates the two, and the United Kingdom retains [[United Kingdom#Akrotiri and Dhekelia|two bases]] on the island. There's a whole town called Varosia or Maraş in the buffer zone, which used to be a very popular tourist destination but is now desolate and off-limits (unless you are a Turkish soldier).

==See also==
*[[Cyprus FreeThinkers]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}
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{{stub|geography}}

[[Category:Asian countries]]
[[Category:Christian fundamentalism]]
[[Category:Cyprus]]
[[Category:European countries]]
[[Category:Member states of the European Union]]
[[Category:Middle Eastern countries]]
[[Category:Tax havens]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes]]

Categories: Asian countries, Christian fundamentalism, Cyprus, European countries, Member states of the European Union, Middle Eastern countries, Tax havens, Territorial disputes