Republic of Cyprus
Cyprus, 1960 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed
Following nationalist violence in the 1950s, Cyprus was granted independence in 1960. On 15 July 1974, a coup d'état was staged by Greek Cypriot nationalists and elements of the Greek military junta. This action precipitated the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on 20 July, which captured the present-day territory of Northern Cyprus and displaced over 150,000 Greek Cypriots and 50,000 Turkish Cypriots. A separate Turkish Cypriot state in the north was established by unilateral declaration in 1983, which was widely condemned by the international community and remains recognised only by Turkey.
Seat of power: Nicosia
Rulers
Makarios III
President of Cyprus, 1960–1977
He served as Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus from 1950 to 1977 and as the first president of Cyprus between 1960 and July 1974, with a second term between December 1974 and 1977. He is widely regarded as the founding father or "Ethnarch" of the Republic of Cyprus, leading its transition from British colonial rule.
Portrait of Makarios III: New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer: Fernandez, Orlando, photographer. Cropped by Badseed using Th..., Public domain, file
Spiros Cyprianou
President of Cyprus, 1977–1988
He served as President of Cyprus from 1977 to 1988. He entered office in acting capacity following the death of President Makarios III in 1977, before being elected unopposed for the rest of Makarios' term in the resulting by-election the following month.
Portrait of Spiros Cyprianou: Bernard Gotfryd, Public domain, file
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Giorgos Vasiliou
President of Cyprus, 1988–1993
He served as President of Cyprus from 1988 to 1993. As president, he oversaw a successful period of economic reform and growth, the search for a diplomatic solution to the Cyprus problem through the United Nations, as well as the country's application for membership of the European Union and the first adaptations to European monetary and economic standards.
Portrait of Giorgos Vasiliou: Ревтум, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Glafcos Clerides
President of Cyprus, 1993–2003
He served as President of Cyprus in 1974 and from 1993 to 2003. He briefly took over the presidency of Cyprus on an interim basis following the failure of the 1974 coup, overseeing the island's defence amidst the Turkish invasion.
Portrait of Glafcos Clerides: European Commission, CC BY 4.0, file
Tassos Papadopoulos
President of Cyprus, 2003–2008
He served as President of Cyprus from 2003 to 2008. After the 2003 presidential election, he directed the population to reject the Annan Plan.
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Dimitris Christofias
President of Cyprus, 2008–2013
He served as President of Cyprus from 2008 to 2013. Taking on the challenge of responding to the 2008 financial crisis, he implemented a wide-ranging social program, increasing pensions and the minimum wage.
Portrait of Dimitris Christofias: Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών, CC BY-SA 2.0, file
Nikos Anastasiades
President of Cyprus, 2013–2023
He served as the seventh president of Cyprus from 2013 to 2023. Having served in parliament for over three decades, Anastasiades was elected to the presidency in 2013 amid a deep economic crisis.
Portrait of Nikos Anastasiades: Amos Ben Gershom, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
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Nicos Christodoulides
President of Cyprus, 2023 to today
He has served as the 8th President of Cyprus since 2023. He previously served as Government Spokesman from 2014 to 2018 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2022, both under his predecessor Nicos Anastasiades.
Portrait of Nicos Christodoulides: European People's Party, CC BY 2.0, file
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Culture
- Cyprus was first settled by hunter-gatherers around 13,000 years ago, with farming communities emerging by 8500 BC.
- The island's intense Mediterranean climate and rich cultural heritage, which features both Greek and Turkish elements, make it a major tourist destination.
- Cyprus is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement until it joined the European Union in 2004; it joined the eurozone in 2008.
- These events and the resulting political situation remain subject to an ongoing dispute.
Picture
Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus and has been continuously inhabited for over 5,500 years.
Image: PomposPompou, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.