The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2000 to 2025 Middle East

Background Cyprus, in 26 editions.

The entry for Cyprus published Background in 26 editions of 36, from 2000 to 2025. The text changed in 18 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
18
the first edition with it
2000
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (2000 to 2025).

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2025 edition

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The same text in 2024 and 2025.

A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 after years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued and forced most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island.

In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), but it is recognized only by Turkey. A UN-mediated agreement to reunite Cyprus, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval from both communities in 2004. The most recent round of reunification negotiations was suspended in 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough.

The entire island joined the EU in 2004, although the EU acquis -- the body of common rights and obligations -- applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government and is suspended in the TRNC. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship have the same legal rights accorded to citizens of other EU states.

A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following after years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority communities came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued, forcing continued and forced most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), (TRNC), but it is recognized only by Turkey. An A UN-mediated agreement, agreement to reunite Cyprus, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval by from both communities in 2004. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The most recent round of reunification negotiations to reunify the island were was suspended in July 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough.
The entire island entered joined the EU on 1 May in 2004, although the EU acquis - -- the body of common rights and obligations - -- applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government, government and is suspended in the "TRNC." TRNC. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy have the same legal rights accorded to other citizens of other EU states.

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Cyprus: Background.” The World Factbook, 2000–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cyprus/background.

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