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Turkish Republic of Northern CyprusKuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti
Flag Coat of arms of Northern Cyprus Coat of arms
Anthem: İstiklâl Marşı  (Turkish) "Independence March"
Capital	Lefkoşa (Nicosia)
Official languages	Turkish
Government	Representative democratic republic
• President	Mehmet Ali Talat
• Prime Minister	Ferdi Sabit Soyer
Sovereignty from Republic of Cyprus (de facto)
• Proclaimed	November 15 1983
• Recognition	Only by Turkey and OIC
• Water (%)	2.7
Population
• 2006 census	264,172
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
• Total	$2 billion (not ranked)
• Per capita	$16,900 (2004) (not ranked)
Currency	New Turkish Lira (TRY)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Calling code	90-392
Internet TLD	.nc.tr

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) (Template:Lang-tr) (KKTC) is a de facto independent republic located in northern Cyprus within the internationally recognised borders of the Republic of Cyprus. It declared independence following an invasion by Turkey and has been effectively independent of the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus since. It is recognized only by Turkey. The United Nations recognizes the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus over the whole island.

From the tip of the Karpass Peninsula (Cape Apostolos Andreas) in the northeast, the TRNC extends westward to Morphou Bay and Cape Kormakitis (the Kokkina/Erenköy exclave marks the westernmost extent of the TRNC), and southward to the village of Louroujina/Akıncılar. The territory between the TRNC and the area under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus is separated by a United Nations-controlled buffer zone.

History

The Constitution of Cyprus, while establishing an Independent and sovereign Republic, was, in the words of de Smith, an authority on Constitutional Law; "Unique in its tortuous complexity and in the multiplicity of the safeguards that it provides for the principal minority; the Constitution of Cyprus stands alone among the constitutions of the world". According to the Greek Cypriots, abuse of the constitutional safeguards by the Turkish Cypriot leadership led to total unworkability of the Constitution, which necessitated the submission of constitutional amendments.

In 1963 President Makarios proposed changes to the constitution via his thirteen amendments, an act viewed as unconstitutional by the Turks and as an attempt to settle many of the constitutional disputes in the Greek Cypriots' favour. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots immediately rejected the proposed amendments as a means of demoting their status as co-founders of the state to one of minority status, removing their constitutional safeguards in the process.

Turkey, in furtherance to its designs, based on territorial aggrandisement, instigated the Turkish Cypriot leadership to resort to insurrection against the state, thus forcing the Turkish Cypriot members of the executive, legislature, judiciary and the civil service to withdraw from their posts, and created military enclaves in Nicosia and other parts of the island.

As a result of the above, and the intercommunal violence that ensued, the Security Council of the United Nations was seized-of the situation, and by resolution 186 of 4 March 1964 a Peace Keeping Force (UNFICYP) was sent to Cyprus and a Mediator was appointed. In his Report (S/6253, A/6017, 26 Marach 1965), the Mediator, Dr Gala Plaza, criticized the 1960 legal framework, and proposed necessary amendements which were again forthwith rejected by Turkey, a fact which resulted in serious deterioration of the situation with constant threats by Turkey against the sovereignty and territorial intergrity of Cyprus, necessitating a series of UN Resolutions calling, inter alia, for respect of the sovereignty, independence and territorial intergrity of Cyprus.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations in 1965, described the policy of the Turkish Cypriot leaders in this way: "The Turkish Cypriot leaders have adhered to a rigid stand against any measures which might involve having members of the two communities live and work together, or which might place Turkish Cypriots in situations where they would have to acknowledge the authority of Government agents. Indeed, since the Turkish Cypriot leadership is committed to physical and geographical separation of the communities as a political goal, it is not likely to encourage activities by Turkish Cypriots which may be interpreted as demonstrating the merits of an alternative policy. The result has been a seemingly deliberate policy of self-segregation by the Turkish Cypriots" (Report S/6426 10.6.65).

On 15 July 1974, the Greek military junta of 1967-1974 backed a Greek Cypriot military coup d'état in Cyprus. President Makarios was removed from office and Nikos Sampson, a former EOKA fighter and a member of the Parliament, took over the presidency. Turkey claimed that under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee the coup was sufficient reason for military action and thus Turkey invaded Cyprus on 20 July 1974. Turkey's position was that such intervention was necessary to protect the Turkish Cypriot populace. The coup failed and Makarios returned to Cyprus. Turkish forces proceeded to take over about 37% of the island, causing a large numbers of Greek Cypriots to abandon their homes. Approximately 200,000 Greek Cypriots fled to the south of the island, while 50,000 Turkish Cypriots fled north. Approximately 1500 Greek Cypriot and 500 Turkish Cypriots remain missing.

Approximately 37% of the territory of the Republic was and remains occupied. Many thousand of people amounting to 40% of the Greek Cypriot population, representing 82% of the total population of the occupied part of Cyprus, were forcibly expelled. Thousands of people, including civilians, were wounded, ill treated or killed. Moreover, the fate of hundreds of Greek Cypriote, including women and children and other civilians, many of whom were known to have been captured by the Turkish army, is still unknown. The Turkish occupation authorities resorted to a policy of systematic destruction of the cultural and religious heritage of Cyprus.

On 15 November 1983, in the middle of yet another United Nations initiative, the regime installed by Turkey in the part of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops, issued a declaration by which it purported to create an independent state. Turkey immediately accorded recognition to the secessionist entity which, however, has not been recognized by any other state. Further secessionist acts followed. United Nations Security Council Resolutions 541(1983) and 550(1984), condemned the unilateral declaration and all subsequent secessionist acts, declared them illegal and invalid, and called for their immediate withdrawal. The Resolutions also called on all states not to recognize the purported state and not to facilitate or in any way assist it.

In its search for a peaceful solution, the Cyprus Government, despite the continuing illegal occupation, agreed to intercommunal talks being held in line with the aforesaid UN resolutions. No success was so far achieved, because of the Turkish intransigence and partitionist designs. In the words of the UN Secretary General: "For the present, the Security Council finds itself faced with an already familiar scenario; the absence of agreement due essentially to a lack of political will on the Turkish Cypriot side" (para 53, doc. S/1994/629 of 30 May 1994).

From the above, it is evident that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is prevented by armed force from exercising authority and control and ensuring implementation and respect of human rights in the occupied area (pl. see inter alia European Commission of Human Rights Reports, Cyprus agains Turkey, op.sit. "The Commission concludes that Turkey's jurisdiction in the north of the Republic of Cyprus, existing by reason of the presence of her armed forces there which prevents exercise of jurisdiction by the applicant Government, cannot be excluded on the ground that jurisdiction in that area is allegedly exercised by the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus"". pl. also see Judgement of European Court of Human Rights, "Case of Loizidou v. Turkey (Merits) (40/1993/435/514) Judgment, 18 December 1996.

Government and politics

Since the Turkish occupation army has assumed effective control of the northern part of the territory of Cyprus, Turkey has pursued a systematic state policy of colonization. To this extent. Turkey has allowed the settlement until the end of 1996 of about 109.000 of its citizens to the area under its military occupation.

Politics of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is head of state and the Prime Minister head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Assembly of the Republic. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

The president is elected for a five-year term. The current president is Mehmet Ali Talat who won the presidential elections on April 17, 2005. The legislature is the Assembly of the Republic, which has 50 members elected by proportional representation from five electoral districts. In the elections of February 2005, the Republican Turkish Party, which favours a peace settlement and the reunification of Cyprus, retained its position as the largest parliamentary party, but failed to win an overall majority.

International status and foreign relations

The international community, with the exception of Turkey, does not recognise the TRNC as a sovereign state, but recognises the de jure sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus over the whole island. The United Nations considers the declaration of independence by the TRNC as legally invalid in several of its resolutions. (Note: the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, an exclave of Azerbaijan, does regard the TRNC as sovereign, while the state of Azerbaijan officially has not followed suit). The Organization of the Islamic Conference gives the TRNC the status of a constituent state, and it is an observer member of this organization. Pakistan and Gambia have arguably expressed gestures towards recognition—but have not formally recognised—the TNRC.

Since the April 2004 referendum on the United Nations Annan Plan, the attitude of the international community towards the TRNC has begun to change. Günter Verheugen, the EU's Enlargement Commissioner, was reported as saying that the EU was considering opening a representative office in the TRNC. EU foreign ministers agreed to give the TRNC 259 million euros in aid, but this was subsequently blocked by the Republic of Cyprus which argued that the Turkish Cypriots wanted to bypass the internationally recognised Cypriot government and receive the money directly. The result was for half of the money so far to be lost. A number of high profile formal meetings have also taken place between President Mehmet Ali Talat and various foreign leaders and politicians including US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, British foreign minister Jack Straw, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Legally, however, the European Union continues to consider the area not under effective control of the Republic of Cyprus as EU territory with a disputed Turkish military presence and thus indefinitely exempt from EU legislation until a settlement has been reached. While certain outlying regions of the EU can and do obtain exemptions from EU law, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the only part of the Union where such laws are not enforceable. The number of seats assigned to Cyprus in the European Parliament (six seats) is based on the population of the entire island as Turkish Cypriots are considered by the EU as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus. Despite the fact that the Turkish Cypriot residents of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus —and possibly some of the naturalised Anatolian Turks— are EU citizens, fewer than expected Northerners voted in the 2004 elections. There is no support for admitting two Cypriot member states into the EU, as long as the Cyprus dispute is not solved. The status of TRNC has become a recurrent issue especially during the recent talks for membership of the EU. Most members of the EU consider the status of Northern Cyprus as a major stumbling block in Turkey's long road to membership.

Military

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has a 2,000 man Defense Force which is primarily made up of conscripted Turkish Cypriot males between the ages of 18 and 40. This force supplements the 40,000 strong Turkish Army force, which includes the XI Corps with two divisions, which is stationed on the island.

As an area under dispute, the Turkish military presence in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is seen differently by the communities in the region, the Greek population seeing it as an occupational force, while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus citizens see it as protecting their life.

Administrative divisions

Administratively, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is divided into five counties, namely:

• Nicosia (Turkish: Lefkoşa)
• Famagusta (Mağusa)
• Kyrenia (Girne)
• Morphou (Güzelyurt)
• Trikomo (İskele)

Geography and climate

The climate of the island is of an extreme Mediterranean type with very hot dry summers and relatively cold winters. Most of the rainfall is concentrated between December and January.

The climate of the coastal parts is less extreme than farther inland, due to the fact that the effect of the sea jon atmospheric humidities is always present there. The sea temperature itself never falls below 16ºC. (January and February); in August it can rise to 28 ºC.

Spring and autumn are short, typified by changeable weather, with occasional heavy storms battering the coast in spring and a westerly wind, called "meltem" carrying the influence of Atlantic depressions to this far eastern end of the Mediterranean.

From mid-May to mid-September the sun shines on a daily average of around 11 hours. Temperatures can reach 40º C. On the Mesaoria Plain, although lower on the coasts, with a north-westerly breeze called "Poyraz" prevailing. The skies are cloudless with a low humidity, 40 - 60 per cent, thus the high temperatures are easier to bear. The hot, dry, dust-laden "sirocco" wind blowing from Africa also finds its way to the island.

Short-lived stormy conditions resulting from fairly frequent small depressions prevail throughout the winter, with 60 per cent of rain falling between December and February. The Northern Range receives around 550 mm of rain per year, whereas the Mesaoria Plain receives only around 300-400 mm.

Frost and snow are almost unknown in Northern Cyprus, although night temperatures can fall to very low levels in winter.

The chief rain-bearing air currents reach the island from the south-west, so that precipitation and atmospheric humidity is at its greatest on the western and south-western sides of the Southern Range. Eastwards, precipition and humidity are reduced by the partial rain-shadow effect of the Southern Range, a similar effect is also caused by the Northern Range which cut off the humidity associated with proximity to the sea from much of the northern Mesaoria Plain. Eastwards of the Northern Range, towards the bays of the Karpaz Peninsula, where the land narrows and the effect of sea influence increases accordingly, humidity increases progressively towards the end of the peninsula.

Most of the rivers are simply winter torrents, only flowing after heavy rain, the rivers running out of the Northern and Southern Ranges rarely flowing all the year round.

During the wet winter months Cyprus is a green island. However, by the time June arrives the landscape at the lower levels assumes the brown, parched aspect which characterises its summer face. The forests and the vineyards in the mountains, plus the stips of irrigated vegatation in the valleys remain green.

Economy

The economy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is dominated by the services sector including the public sector, trade, tourism and education, with smaller agriculture and light manufacturing sectors. The economy operates on a free-market basis.

The continuing Cyprus problem adversely affects the economic development of the TRNC. The island nation Republic of Cyprus, which is internationally recognised as such and an EU member, has declared airports and ports in the area not under its effective control, closed. All U.N. Member countries and E.U. member countries respect the closure of those ports and airports according to the declaration of the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish community argues that the Republic of Cyprus has used its international standing to handicap economic relations between TRNC and the rest of the world.

Despite the constraints imposed by its lack of international recognition, the TRNC economy turned in an impressive performance in the last few years. The GDP growth rates of the TRNC economy in 2001-2005 have been 5.4%, 6.9%, 11.4%, 15.4% and 10.6% against 4.1%, 2.1%, 1.9%, 3.8% and 3.9% in the Republic of Cyprus. This growth has been buoyed by the relative stability of the Turkish Lira and a boom in the education and construction sectors.

Studies by the World Bank show that the per capita GDP in TRNC was 76% of the per capita GDP in the Republic of Cyprus in PPP-adjusted terms in 2004. (USD 22,300 for the Republic of Cyprus and USD 16,900 for the TRNC).

Although the TRNC economy has recovered in recent years, it is still dependent on monetary transfers from the Turkish government. Under the 2003-06 economic protocol, Ankara plans to provide around $550 million to the TRNC.

The number of tourists visiting Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus during January-August 2003 was 286,901.

Communications and transport

Because of its status, the TRNC is heavily dependent on Turkish military and economic support. It uses the New Turkish Lira as its currency. All TRNC exports and imports have to take place via Turkey. International telephone calls are routed via a Turkish dialling code: +90 392. On the web TRNC is under the Turkish second-level domain .nc.tr, and mail must be addressed via Mersin 10, Turkey as the Universal Postal Union refuses to recognise the TRNC as a separate entity.

Direct flights to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are forbidden by the Republic of Cyprus. The airports of Geçitkale and Ercan are only recognised as legal ports of entry by Turkey and Azerbaijan.

TRNC sea ports had been declared closed to all shipping by the Republic of Cyprus since 1974. Turkey, however, rejects this declaration while TRNC-registered vessels have free access to Turkish sea ports.

Naturalised TRNC citizens or foreigners carrying a passport stamped by the TRNC authorities may be refused entry by the Republic of Cyprus or Greece, although after the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU such restrictions have been eased following confidence-building measures between Athens and Ankara and the partial opening of the UN controlled line by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus authorities. The Republic of Cyprus also allows passage across the Green Line from the part of Nicosia that it controls (as well as a few other selected crossing points), since the TRNC does not leave entry stamps in the passport for such visits.

Airports and harbours

Airports & Airfields

• Ercan International Airport (Lefkoşa/Nicosia - Main Airport)
• Geçitkale/Lefkoniko Airport (Mağusa/Famagusta)
• Ilker Karter Airport (Girne/Kyrenia)
• Topel Airport (Güzelyurt/Morphou)
• Pınarbaşı Airport (Girne/Kyrenia)

Sea Ports

• Port of Mağusa (Famagusta)
• Famagusta Free Port & Zone
• Port of Girne (Kyrenia)

TRNC airports are forbidden from receiving international flights as the Republic of Cyprus has declared those ports and airports of the island nation closed after the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus. According to a House of Lords hearing (ref: Cyprus: Direct Flights - 07-01-08) "The simplest way of enabling direct flights would be a decision by the Republic of Cyprus to designate Ercan as an international airport under the terms of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation." In the absence of such a decision, Northern Cyprus remains isolated with only Turkey as its legal outlet to the rest of the world.

Universities

• Eastern Mediterranean University
• Near East University
• European University of Lefke
• International Cyprus University
• Girne American University
• Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus

NGOs

• Management Centre for the Eastern Mediterranean, an umbrella and support institution for civil society organisations in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It organises conferences, training and other events, contains useful lists of NGOs and other organisations and reports from studies and initiatives.
• Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Red Crescent Association which claims descent from an organisation founded in 1974, but which was long dormant. In April 2006, a General Assembly of the organisation elected the recently retired president of the supreme court, Taner Erginel, as President.

Demographics

The TRNC has a population of about 265,000 (including a large international university student community, migrant workers from Turkey). The population is almost entirely Turkish-speaking ethnic Turks. English is widely spoken as a second language. Many of the older Turkish Cypriots speak and understand Greek - some may even be considered native speakers of the Greek Cypriot dialect.

There are small populations of Greek Cypriots and Maronites (about 3,000) living in Rizokarpaso and Kormakitis regions.

The TRNC includes the northern part of the city of Nicosia (Turkish: Lefkoşa, Greek: Λευκωσία Lefkosía), which serves as its capital.

A large percentage of the people living in northern Cyprus after 1974 have emigrated, particularly to United Kingdom but also to Turkey. Many left the island due to the grim economic situation of the TRNC which, because of the prevailing embargo imposed on it by the international community, faces many difficulties in trading with third countries.

Culture

Turkish Cypriot Artists

• Nil Burak
• Hussein Chalayan
• Işın Karaca

Art Organisations & Institutions

• Turkish Cypriot Online Museum of Fine Arts

Tourist attractions

• Nicosia has an old town centre similar to that of Famagusta. The ancient city centre is surrounded by a 5.5 km long city wall, which is still intact.
• To the northeast the mythical Five Finger mountains (Pentadactylos, Turkish: Beşparmak) guard the city. This rocky five finger mountain rises 1050 meters above sea level and harbours the legend of the Byzantine hero Digenis, who defeated the invading Arabs with supernatural strength.
• One of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean lies on the Rizokarpaso (Karpaz) peninsula on the easternmost tip of the island and is a nesting ground for endangered loggerhead and green turtles.

See also

• Turkish invasion of Cyprus
• List of cities in Cyprus for Greek, Turkish and Classical names.
• Elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
• Cyprus Turkish Football Federation
• Bayrak Radio and Television Corporation
• Türk Ajansi Kibris (TAK) News Agency
• Constitution of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
• Reunification
• Annan Plan for Cyprus
• Cyprus Refugees
• Islam in Cyprus
• Cypriot Orthodox Church
• Roman Catholicism in Cyprus
• Anglican Church Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf

Notes and references

1. Freedomhouse.org Country Report
2. http://www.humanrights.coe.int/minorities/eng/FrameworkConvention/StateReports/1999/cyprus/B.htm
3. http://www.humanrights.coe.int/minorities/eng/FrameworkConvention/StateReports/1999/cyprus/B.htm
4. David Hannay, 2005. Cyprus the search for a solution. I.B Tauris.
5. http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/www.cyprus-conflict.net/narrative-main-%203.html
6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6166560.stm
7. http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/453/99/IMG/NR045399.pdf?OpenElement
8. http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/487/80/IMG/NR048780.pdf?OpenElement
9. http://islamic-conference-news.newslib.com/story/1413-3215426/
10. Suleyman Kurt (2006-09-04). "Talat Visits 'Islamabad' as TRNC President". Zaman. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
11. "EU's draft Cyprus decision falls short of expectations". ABHaber.com. 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
12. David Gow (2004-10-07). "EU puts Turkey on a long road to accession". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-01-30. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
13. "EU Sets Deadline for Turkey to Open Up Its Ports". Deutsche Welle. 2006-11-21. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
14. University of Oxford, European Studies Centre, Workshop on Cyprus 10-11 March 2006
15. University of Oxford, European Studies Centre, Workshop on Cyprus 10-11 March 2006
16. http://www.holidayinnorthcyprus.com/eventsView.jsp?idNews=27

External links

Official links

• Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus government site
• Office Of The President, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
• Northern Cypriot Tourism Office
• TRNC Public Information Office
• TRNC Central Bank in Turkish language

Other links

• North Cyprus Home Page
• ATCA News, Association of Turkish Cypriots Abroad
• "Islamic Conference's Parliaments to Call TRNC 'Cyprus Turkish State'" JTW
• Useful Information on TRNC
• About TRNC
• Comprehensive information on Northern Cyprus
• International Expert Panel for a European Solution in Cyprus
• Assembly of Turkish American Associations
• Chronology - Cyprus Issue
• Münüse, Folk Music
• TIKA
• Template:Wikitravel
• EU task-force on Turkish Cypriot community
• Turkish controlled Northern Cyprus has announced plans to decriminalize homosexuality
• Geocities
• North Cyprus Forum
• A Directory and Information Source for Northern Cyprus. Company Information including location maps. General and Specific Questions for Residences and Tourists

Template:Turkic States

Template:Dependent and other territories of Europe

• Unrecognized or largely-unrecognized states
• Divided regions
• Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
• Territories under military occupation