In 1925 Cyprus became a Crown colony of the UK, but by then the Cypriots had had just about enough of being a pawn for empire-builders, and agitation for self-determination began. This laid the foundations for today's Greek/Turkish conflict: while many Greek Cypriots wanted to form a union with Greece (a movement known as enosis), the Turkish population was not so keen. By 1950, the Cypriot Orthodox Church and 96% of Greek Cypriots wanted enosis. In response, the British drafted a new constitution, which was accepted by the Turkish population but opposed by the National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters, who wanted enosis or nothing. They began a guerrilla war against the British.

In August 1960, Britain granted Cyprus its independence. A Greek, Archbishop Makarios, became president, while a Turk, Kücük, was made vice-president. By 1964 Makarios was moving towards stronger links with Greece, and intercommunal violence was on the rise. The United Nations sent in a peace-keeping force. In 1967 a military junta took over the Greek government and enosis went out the window - even the most fervent Greece-lovers didn't want union with such a repressive regime. Greece didn't give up, though: on 15 July 1974 a CIA-sponsored, Greek-organised coup overthrew Makarios and replaced him with a puppet leader. Turkey responded by invading and Greece quickly pulled out, but the Turks weren't placated and took the northern third of the island, forcing 180,000 Greek Cypriots to flee their homes. In 1983 Turkish Cypriots proclaimed a separate state, naming it the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). No country except for Turkey has recognised this 'state'.

Recent History

There had been numerous attempts at making the split sides come together again since 1974, to no avail. The most intense talks came when both Cyprus and Turkey sought entry into the EU, and intensive meetings during 2002 almost bore peaceful fruit, but the efforts were bogged down in the fine print. In 2003, Kofi Annan tried to broker an agreement that would allow a referendum on reunification. When the plan was put to referendum on both sides of the Green Line in April, Turkish Cypriots were overwhelmingly in favour, but Greek Cypriots voted hugely against the plan.

Real changes set in later that year, when Rauf Denktaş decided to ease travel regulations between the North and South, allowing Cypriots from both sides to cross over for 24 hours. The Cypriots crossed the Green Line in swelling numbers and since then, four checkpoints have been opened and visiting time extended to up to three months. The Republic of Cyprus joined the EU alone in May 2004. The following year Rauf Denktaş leader of Turkish Cypriots for thirty years, lost the elections to the more moderate Mehmet Ali Talat.