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| − | Third largest island in the Mediterranean known as "[[Aphrodite]]'s island" as Greek Mythology has it that the love goddess was born there.
| + | '''Ioannis Clerides''' was a [[Cyprus|Cypriot]] lawyer and political figure. |
| − | Its name is derived from the word for copper which was mined there since antiquity.
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| − | Its population of nearly 900,000 inhabitants consists of over 700,000 [[Greeks]], 160,000 Turks, 8,000 Armenians and Maronites. The rest are foreign workers or retirees.
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| − | The island's main cities are [[Lefkosia]] ([[Nicosia]]), [[Lemesos]] ([[Limassol]]), [[Larnaca]], [[Paphos]] and [[Ammochostos]] ([[Famagusta]]) and [[Kyrenia]] in the north.
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| − | === Geography ===
| + | He was the father of Cypriot President [[Glafkos Clerides]]. In [[1946]], he was elected mayor of [[Nicosia]]. |
| − | The central plain is called Mesaoria. There are two mountain ranges: The Pentadaktylos to the north and the Troodos to the south and west. There are also scattered but significant plains along the southern coast.
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| − | The climate is temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, variably rainy winters.
| + | During the [[EOKA]] struggle ([[1955]] - [[1959]]), Clerides chaired a Human Rights Commission that gathered information on torture and other abuses of the colonial government against Cypriot fighters, however, Clerides' main claim to fame is his candidacy to become the first President of Cyprus. He led the "[[Democratic Union of Cyprus|Democratic Union]]" party, which was supported by [[AKEL]] but opposed by his own son. In the [[Cypriot presidential election, 1959|presidential elections]] of [[December 13]], [[1959]], he polled a disappointing 33.15% to Archbishop [[Makarios III]] 66.85%. |
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| − | === History ===
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| − | The island was settled by Mycenean Greeks in 1500BC. They were joined 3 centuries later by Achaean colonists.
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| − | It has been conquered many times passing from Assyrians to Egyptians to Persians until it was liberated by Athenian general [[Kimon]].
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| − | The Romans conquered Cyprus in the 1st Century BC. It was during this period that Christianity came to Cyprus through the Apostle Paul and Barnabas.
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| − | The island became part of the [[Byzantine Empire]] after the Roman Empire's split into East and West. After [[1190]], new conquerors came: The Crusaders, the Lusignan, the Venetians, the Ottomans and the British (1878). It was during British rule that the island's Greek population's hopes arose for ''Enosis'' (Union) with mother Greece. Frustration with the British rulers' insensitivity towards the majority population's wishes led to protests in [[1931]], a plebiscite conducted by the Church in [[1950]] (96% voted for Enosis) and, eventually, the armed struggle of [[EOKA]] (Εθνική Οργάνωσις Κυπρίων Αγωνιστών) - National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters - ([[1955]] - [[1959]]). The struggle was led by Colonel (later General) [[Georgios Grivas]] under the nom-de-guerre "Digenis". The political leader was the Archbishop of Cyprus [[Makarios III]]. As many Greeks quit the public sector in support of the struggle, the British started recruiting Turks to replace them and soon the two communities found themselves at odds. This was made worse by broadcasts from the Turkish mainland urging the Turks of Cyprus to demand equality and by the pogrom against the Greek community in Istanbul (September 1955). Eventually, the British government decided to compromise and, through the treaties of London and Zurich, the Republic of Cyprus was born (1960). [[EOKA]] fighters came down from the mountains to a hero's welcome and Archbishop [[Makarios III]] was elected Cyprus' first President. Turkish Cypriot leader, Dr. Fazil Kucuk, served as his Vice-President.
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| − | == Republic of Cyprus ==
| + | [[Category:Cypriot politicians|Clerides, Ioannis]] |
| − | Unfortunately, the island's troubles did not cease with independence. Many Greeks resented the compromises of the treaties of London and Zurich that granted quotas to the Turkish minority in the Police Service, the Civil Service and a veto over any legislation. In December [[1963]], [[Makarios III|Makarios]] declared the constitution as unworkable and suggested 13 amendments. The Turkish minority reacted and soon intercommunal war broke out. Turkey bombarded the island in support of the Turkish Cypriots and threatened to invade. Greek Prime Minister [[Georgios Papandreou]] sent one division to Cyprus and war between Greece and Turkey became a very real possibility. Through the efforts of the United Nations and the United States, war was averted. The Turkish Cypriot minority, from this point forward, withdrew into enclaves and withdrew from the Cypriot legislature, content to running its own affairs.
| + | [[Category:Mayors of Cyprus|Clerides, Ioannis]] |
| − | In [[1967]], communal strife again broke. The cause was a road block thrown up by Turkish Cypriots which Greek Cypriot National Guardsmen, led by General [[Georgios Grivas]] removed. The Guardsmen were fired upon and in the exchange of fire that ensued, several Turks were killed. Turkey once again threatened to invade but were thwarted again by UN and US efforts. However, in exchange for Turkey abandoning plans of invasion, the [[junta]] running Greece had to call back the division originally sent by [[Georgios Papandreou]], which displeased many nationalists on the island. General [[Georgios Grivas|Grivas]] was also recalled. The relationship between the junta and [[Makarios III|Makarios]] was very uneasy as each side found it hard to conceal their dislike for the other. Right-wing Greek officers, loyal to the junta were appointed to head the Cypriot National Guard and [[Georgios Grivas|Grivas]] was sent back, in secret, to organise the [[EOKA B']] guerrila force to overthrow [[Makarios III|Makarios]]. The Archbishop reacted by purchasing weapons from Czechoslovakia. Early in 1974, [[Georgios Grivas|Grivas]] passed away. [[Makarios III|Makarios]] offered amnesty to those in [[EOKA B']] who would disarm but few did. [[Makarios III|Makarios]] then, in the Summer of that year, proceeded to demand that the [[junta]] withdraw all officers from the National Guard that displeased him. The junta reacted by staging a coup d' etat against President [[Makarios III|Makarios]] on [[July 15]] [[1974]]. The Archbishop fled the island and newspaper editor Nikos Georgiadis, who had fought the British under the name "[[Nikos Sampson|Sampson]]", was proclaimed President in his place.
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| − | [[Makarios III|Makarios]], from abroad called for armed resistance from his supporters while Turkish Premier, Bulent Ecevit, threatened war against Greece whom he blamed for this "fait accompli". US mediation this time was half-hearted and on [[July 20]], [[1974]], Turkey invaded Cyprus. Greece reacted by mobilising for war but the Greek Armed forces turned back and deposed the [[junta]] ending their 7-year reign. In Cyprus a truce, brokered in Geneva, was declared, "President" [[Nikos Sampson|Sampson]] resigned and [[Glafkos Clerides]] - chairman of the [[Democratic Rally Party of Cyprus|Democratic Rally "ΔΗ.ΣΥ" Party]] took over temporarily until [[Makarios III|Makarios]] could return.
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| − | The Geneva truce did not hold up as Turkey used it to build up their forces in Cyprus to nearly 40,000 and, although the pre-war order had been restored, on [[August 14]] they launched the second phase of the invasion occupying 40% of the north of the island. In the process, 200,000 Cypriots were displaced becoming refugees in the south.
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| − | Negotiations have taken place ever since but without any result. United Nations resolutions have been passed, calling for withdrawal of Turkey's troops, but again without result.
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| − | In the meantime, the Turkish-occupied north, under Suleyman Demirel, proclaimed itself independent in [[1983]] under the name "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("Kuzey Kibris Turk Cumhuriyet"). Only Turkey has recognised this "state".
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| − | [[Makarios III|Makarios]] passed away in [[1977]]. The current President of Cyprus is [[Tassos Papadopoulos]] of the [[Democratic Party of Cyprus|Democratic Party "ΔΗ.ΚΟ."]]. | |
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| − | ==Administration==
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| − | For administrative purposes, the Republic of Cyprus is divided into six districts ("provinces"):
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| − | *[[Lefkosia province|Lefkosia]]
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| − | *[[Kerynia province|Kerynia]]
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| − | *[[Ammochostos province|Ammochostos]]
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| − | *[[Larnaca province|Larnaca]]
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| − | *[[Lemesos province|Lemesos]] and
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| − | *[[Paphos province|Paphos]]
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| − | Each province is headed by an "Eparch" (Greek Έπαρχος) who is appointed by the central government and is considered a civil servant rather than an elected official.
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| − | ==Education==
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| − | Cyprus has a well-developed system of primary and secondary education offering both public and private education with the option of attending either Catholic or traditional Orthodox Private Schools.
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| − | The majority of Cypriots receive their higher education at Greek, British, Turkish or US universities, while there are also sizeable emigrant communities in the United Kingdom and Australia. Private colleges and state-supported universities have been developed by both the Turkish and Greek communities.
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| − | The Cypriot system follows the Greek system in the south and the Turkish system in the north. A large number of students (after A levels) study abroad, mainly in English speaking countries such as the US, UK, and Australia, but also in other European destinations such as France and Germany. With the opening of Eastern Europe the students also have the opportunity to go to universities in Romania, Hungary etc.
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| − | == Sports ==
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| − | Cyprus has an established football League of its own though, in the past, the champions of Cyprus competed in the A' Division of the [[Football A Division|National League of Greece]] ([[1968]] - [[1974]]).
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| − | The National Team of Cyprus hit a high when they defeated Spain 3-2 on [[September 5]], [[1998]], in the qualifiers of Euro 2000.
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| − | === Top Clubs ===
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| − | *[[APOEL FC|APOEL]]
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| − | *[[Omonia FC|Omonia]]
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| − | *[[Olympiakos Lefkosia FC|Olympiakos Lefkosia]]
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| − | *[[Anorthosis Famagusta FC|Anorthosis Famagusta]]
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| − | *[[Nea Salamina FC|Nea Salamina]]
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| − | *[[AE Paphos FC]]
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| − | *[[Apollon Limassol FC|Apollon Limassol]]
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| − | *[[AEK Larnaca FC|AEK Larnaka]]
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| − | *[[EN Paralimni FC|EN Paralimni]]
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| − | *[[AE Limassol FC|AE Limassol]]
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