Turkish invasion of Cyprus

As Operation Atilla the invasion and occupation of those part of the Republic of Cyprus was designated by the Turkish military, on the 1983, the internationally recognized only by Turkey Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was proclaimed.

Course

On 15 July 1974, the Cypriot President, Archbishop Makarios was deposed in a coup by the Cypriot National Guard; The aim of the steered by the Greek junta coup was the Cyprus with Greece.

Turkey responded on July 20 with the posting of invading forces and the occupation of the northern part of the island. Although the territory of Northern Cyprus accounted for only 37 percent of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, but 70 percent of all economic services were provided to him. Thus, for example, were 66 percent of all tourist facilities, 80 percent of all citrus trees and the commercial port of the island in Famagusta on the north part of the island.

Follow

The Turkish military expelled 200,000 Greek-speaking Cypriots from the now occupied part of Cyprus. A small minority remained on the peninsula Karpas ( Rizokarpaso ), as well as Arabic-speaking Maronites. Then had Turkish-speaking Cypriots, who at that time 10 percent of the island's population accounted for, leaving the south of the island. Your ownership of land was registered in order to facilitate a return for a return. This led to a de facto separation of the bi- lingual before and multicultural island.

An uninhabited buffer zone is managed by the UN, in this there is also the since disused Nicosia airport and the Ledra Palace Hotel.

Code name

Operation Attila describes the two operations of the Turkish army during the invasion in Cyprus.

Atilla I was the first stage of the operation. The operation began in the early hours of July 20, 1974 as a response to Attila by the Greek military dictatorship against Makarios coup border National Guard. Three days after the invasion, the coup plotters were sold and put the elected parliament again.

Atilla II was the second stage of the Turkish invasion called, which comes less than a month after the restoration of parliament on 14 August 1974.