For decades, the world has seen a distorted map of Cyprus. Discover the real historical timeline behind the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and why the division still matters today.
The Truth About Cyprus: What the World Wasn’t Told
For years, global audiences have been shown a misleading map of Cyprus—one that ignores the realities on the ground and overlooks the Turkish Cypriot perspective.
Here is the real map of the island today:
- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
- Greek Cypriot Administration (Republic of Cyprus)
- UN Buffer Zone
- British Sovereign Bases (Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
But how did we get here?
Let’s break it down with a timeline of key historical events that shaped the Cyprus of today:
📜 Timeline of Truth: Cyprus, Step by Step
- 1571 – The Ottoman Empire liberates Cyprus from Venetian rule.
- 1878 – The Ottomans lease Cyprus to Britain.
- 1914 – Britain unilaterally annexes the island during World War I.
- 1923 – Türkiye officially recognizes British control under the Treaty of Lausanne.
- 1950s – EOKA, a Greek Cypriot terrorist group, launches a campaign for Enosis—the union of Cyprus with Greece.
- 1960 – Cyprus gains independence. A bi-communal republic is formed between Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Türkiye, Greece, and the UK become official guarantor states.
- 1963 – The power-sharing republic collapses after Greek Cypriot attacks on Turkish Cypriots. Over 100 villages are attacked. Tens of thousands are forced into ghettos and enclaves.
- 1967 – A military junta seizes power in Greece. Tensions in Cyprus escalate. Turkish Cypriots continue to live in isolation and fear.
- 15 July 1974 – Greece-backed coup topples President Makarios. Nikos Sampson, a known EOKA terrorist, is installed as dictator.
- 20 July 1974 – Türkiye legally intervenes under its guarantor rights to restore peace and protect Turkish Cypriots.
- 1975 – A population exchange agreement is signed, leading to the formation of two separate zones: North and South.
- 1983 – Turkish Cypriots formally declare independence as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
- 2004 – Turkish Cypriots vote YES (65%) to the UN’s Annan Plan for reunification. Greek Cypriots vote NO (76%). Despite rejecting the peace plan, the Greek Cypriot side is admitted to the EU.
- 2017 – The Crans-Montana talks—the last major push for federation—collapse after the Greek Cypriot side walks away.
🧭 A Reality the World Can No Longer Ignore
The story of Cyprus is not just one of division, but of survival, broken promises, and international double standards. Turkish Cypriots have lived through displacement, violence, and decades of embargoes, yet they remain committed to peace, sovereignty, and a just solution.
It’s time the world stops looking at the wrong map—and starts understanding the real one. northcyprusinvesting.com, Investra.io