Independence from the UK was approved in
1960, with
constitutional guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot
minority.
In 1974, a Greek-sponsored
attempt
to seize the government was met by military
intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled almost 40% of the
island.
In
1983, the Turkish-held area declared
itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is
recognized only by Turkey. The
latest two-year
round of UN-brokered direct talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot
and Turkish Cypriot communities
to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected
the UN unity
plan in an April
2004 referendum.
Although only the internationally recognized Greek
Cypriot-controlled "Republic of Cyprus" joined the EU
on 1 May 2004, every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport
will
have the status of a European citizen. However, Nicosia continues to
oppose EU efforts to establish
direct trade and economic
links to northern Cyprus as a way of rewarding the Turkish Cypriot community
for
voting in favor of the UN unity plan.