cyprus problem

Q Discuss the Cyprus problem in detail.
Ans Cyprus is an island in the Eastern Meditteranean and is a Euro-Asian country. It differs in culture and religion between south and north. About 80% inhabitants are of Greek origin (Orthodox Christians) while the remainder are Turkish.
Cyprus was a British colony and became independent in 1960. With Archbishop Makarious as president, whgo died in 1977. In 1963 fighting broke out between Greek and Turkish Cypriots and following an appeal for help by Britain, The UN sent a peace keeping force in April 1964. However, the UN force could do little to solve the dispute. In 1974 under operation Atilla Turkish forces occupied nearly 40% of  the Island in the north.  Doctor Rauf Denktash has been the Turkish Cypriot leader for over forty five years. A UN  Green Line has also been established between Greek/Turkish Cyprus. In 1983 Rauf Denktash declared Turkish occupied Cyprus as an independent Turkish state.
The Greek side of Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus) has a very thriving economy. Every year about 2.4 million tourists visit it. service industries like insurance, banking and shipping have developed much. The Republic of Cyprus with Nikosia as capital is a member of UN and it became a member of EU on 1st May, 2004. The Turksih side of Cyprus which is also called North Cyprus( has a de facto independence) and is not well developed.
Cyprus problem has been ethnicity, land, nationalism, revenge, territorial and population exchange and religion. Greece has helped Cyprus to acquire sophisticated defence equipment and Turkey as a member of NATO is backing Turkish Cypriots,
The longstanding enemity and distrust between Greece and Turkey has been a great hindrance in Cyprus problem. Turkey and Greece are members of NATO and Cyprus problem has created a wedge in NATO.
Turkey has been called upon to abandon any attempt to create a state in the occupied areas and to accept UN security council resolution, which calls for a federal settlement based on the undivided sovereignty of the island. In 1996 the Cyprus problem exacerbated due to military build up by Greece and Turkey. Attempts to reach a solution to the dispute has so far been unsuccessful in 2004 under the UN Kofi Annan plan.
In 1996 group of  motorcyclists from the Cypriot diaspora assembled all over Europe rode to Cyprus to protest against division of Cyprus. In 2008 the well known Ledra street was demolihed which divided Nikosia.