Northern Cyprus

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: İstiklâl Marşı   Independence March
Capital		Nicosia (Turkish: Lefkoşa) 35°11′N 33°22′E / 35.183°N 33.367°E / 35.183; 33.367
Official language(s)		Turkish
Demonym		Turkish Cypriot
Government		Republic[1]
-	President	Derviş Eroğlu
-	Prime Minister	Irsen Küçük
Independence (de facto)		from Cyprus
-	Proclaimed	15 November 1983
-	Recognition	By Turkey only
Area
-	Total	3,355 km2 (Ranked 174th in the world) 1,295 sq mi
-	Water (%)	2.7
Population
-	2009 (proj.) census	285,356[2]
-	Density	78/km2 (89th) 203/sq mi
GDP (nominal)		2007 estimate
-	Total	$3.6 billion[3]
-	Per capita	$14,765[3]
Currency		Turkish lira (TRY)
Time zone		EET (UTC+2)
-	Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Internet TLD		.nc.tr or .tr, wide use of .cc
Calling code		+90 (+90-392 for TRNC)

Northern Cyprus or North Cyprus (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs), formally named the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti (KKTC),^[4] is a de facto state^[5][6][7] located in the northern portion of the island of Cyprus. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot populations culminated in 1974 with a coup d'état, an attempt to annex the island to Greece and a military invasion by Turkey in response resulted in a partitioning of the island,^{[8][9][10][11]} the resettlement of many of its inhabitants, and, eventually, a unilateral declaration of independence by the north in 1983. Northern Cyprus has received diplomatic recognition only from Turkey,^{[12][13][14][15]} upon which it is dependent for economic, political and military support. The rest of the international community, including the United Nations and the European Union, recognises the de jure sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus over the entire island.

Attempts to reach a solution to the dispute have so far been unsuccessful. In 2004 a fifth revision of the UN Annan Plan to settle the Cyprus dispute was accepted by a majority of Turkish Cypriots in a referendum, but rejected by a majority of Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Army maintains a large force in Northern Cyprus; its presence is supported and approved by the de facto local government, but the Republic of Cyprus and the international community regard it as an illegal occupation force, and its presence has also been denounced in several United Nations Security Council resolutions.^[16]

Northern Cyprus extends from the tip of the Karpass Peninsula (Cape Apostolos Andreas) in the northeast, westward to Morphou Bay and Cape Kormakitis (the Kokkina/Erenköy exclave marks the westernmost extent of the area), and southward to the village of Louroujina/Akıncılar. A buffer zone under the control of the United Nations stretches between Northern Cyprus and the rest of the island and divides Nicosia, the island's largest city and capital of both states.

Contents 1 History 2 Government and politics 3 International status and foreign relations 4 Military 5 Administrative divisions 6 Geography and climate 7 Education 8 Economy 9 Communications and transport 10 Demographics 10.1 Censuses 10.2 Estimates 11 Sports 12 Human rights 13 See also 14 References 15 Further reading 16 External links

[edit] History

The history of Northern Cyprus begins with the gaining of independence of a united Cyprus from British rule in August 1960. Independence was only achieved after both Greek and Turkish Cypriots agreed to respectively abandon plans for enosis (union with Greece) and taksim (Turkish for 'partition'). The agreement involved Cyprus being governed under a constitution which apportioned Cabinet posts, parliamentary seats and civil service jobs on an agreed ratio between the two communities. Within three years, tensions between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in administrative affairs began to show. In particular, disputes over separate municipalities and taxation created a deadlock in government. In 1963 President Makarios proposed unilateral changes to the constitution, via 13 amendments. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots rejected the proposed amendments as an attempt to settle constitutional disputes in favour of the Greek Cypriots^[17] and as a means of demoting Turkish status from co-founders of the state to one of minority status removing their constitutional safeguards in the process. Turkish Cypriots filed a lawsuit against the 13 amendments in Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus (SCCC). Makarios clarified not to comply with whatever the decision of SCCC will be,^[18] and defended his amendments as being necessary "to resolve constitutional deadlocks" as opposite to the stance of SCCC.^[19] On 25 April 1963, SCCC decided that Makarios' 13 amendments are illegal. On 21 May, president of SCCC resigned due to the Makarios' stance. On 15 July, Makarios ignored the decision of SCCC.^[20] On 30 November, Makarios legalized the 13 proposals.

In 1963, the Greek Cypriot wing of the government created the Akritas plan which outlined a policy that would remove Turkish Cypriots from the government and ultimately lead to union with Greece. The plan stated that if the Turkish Cypriots objected then they should be "violently subjugated before foreign powers could intervene".^[21] On 21 December 1963, a Turkish Cypriot crowd clashed with the plainclothes special constables of Yorgadjis. Almost immediately, intercommunal violence broke out with a major Greek Cypriot paramilitary attack upon Turkish Cypriots in Nicosia and Larnaca. Though the TMT — a Turkish resistance group created in 1959 to promote a policy of taksim (division or partition of Cyprus), in opposition to the Greek Cypriot nationalist group EOKA and its advocacy of enosis (union of Cyprus with Greece) — committed a number of acts of retaliation, historian of the Cyprus conflict Keith Kyle noted that "there is no doubt that the main victims of the numerous incidents that took place during the next few months were Turks."^[17] Seven hundred Turkish hostages, including women and children, were taken from the northern suburbs of Nicosia. Nikos Sampson, a nationalist and future coup leader, led a group of Greek Cypriot irregulars into the mixed suburb of Omorphita and attacked the Turkish Cypriot population.^[22] By 1964, 193 Turkish Cypriots and 133 Greek Cypriots had been killed, with a further 209 Turks and 41 Greeks missing and presumed dead.

Turkish Cypriot members of the government had by now withdrawn, creating an essentially Greek Cypriot administration in control of all institutions of the state. Widespread looting of Turkish Cypriot villages prompted 20,000 refugees to retreat into armed enclaves, where they remained for the next 11 years,^[5] relying on food and medical supplies from Turkey to survive. Turkish Cypriots formed paramilitary groups to defend the enclaves, leading to a gradual division of the island's communities into two hostile camps. The violence had also seen thousands of Turkish Cypriots attempt to escape the violence by emigrating to Britain, Australia and Turkey.^[23]

The view of Turkish Cypriots: The Cyprus's Supreme Court ruling found that Makarios had violated the constitution by failing to fully implement its measures and that Turkish Cypriots had not been allowed to return to their positions in government without first accepting the proposed constitutional amendments.^[24] Also, Turkish Cypriots did not self-segregate themselves: then–United Nations Secretary General, U Thant's S/5950 (10 September 1964) report (paragraph 180) UNFICYP carried out a detailed survey of all damage to properties throughout the island during the disturbances;it shows that in 109 villages, most of them Turkish-Cypriot or mixed villages, 527 houses have been destroyed while 2.000 others have suffered damage from looting. As a result, Turkish Cypriot Provisional Administration founded on 28 December 1967. The view of Greek Cypriots: the Turkish Cypriots' withdrawal from the government and their retreat into enclaves was a voluntary action, prompted by their desire to form a state of their own: the then–United Nations Secretary General, U Thant, in 1965 stated that Turkish Cypriots had furthered a policy of "self-segregation" and taken a "rigid stand" against policies which might have involved recognizing the government's authority.^[25]

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 took his place. Turkey claimed that, under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, the coup was sufficient reason for military action to protect the Turkish Cypriot populace, and thus Turkey invaded Cyprus on 20 July. Following Turkey's military intervention, the coup failed and Makarios returned to Cyprus. Turkish forces proceeded to take over the northern four-elevenths of the island (about 37% of Cyprus's total area). After the hostilities in 1974, the Greek Cypriots in Rizokarpaso agreed to live under Turkish Cypriot administration and stayed in Northern Cyprus. The other Greek Cypriots in the North (approximately 160,000) chose to live under Greek Cypriot administration and fled to the south while 50,000 Turkish Cypriots fled north; in accordance with the Population Exchange Agreement between Turkish and Greek Cypriots under the auspices of United Nations on 2 August 1975.^[26] Approximately 1,500 Greek Cypriots and 500 Turkish Cypriots remain missing.^[27]

In 1975 the "Turkish Federative State of Cyprus" (Kıbrıs Türk Federe Devleti) was declared as a first step towards a future federated Cypriot state, but was rejected by the Republic of Cyprus, the UN, and the international community. After eight years of failed negotiations with the leadership of the Greek Cypriot community, the north declared its independence on 15 November 1983 under the name of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This unilateral declaration of independence was rejected by the UN and the Republic of Cyprus. In recent years the politics of reunification has dominated the island's affairs. It was hoped that Cyprus's planned accession into the European Union would act as a catalyst towards a settlement, and in 2004 a United Nations–brokered peace settlement was presented in a referendum to both sides. The proposed settlement was opposed by both the president of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, and Turkish Cypriot president Rauf Denktaş; in the referendum, a majority of Turkish Cypriots accepted the proposal, but Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly rejected it. As a result, Cyprus entered the European Union as a divided island, with Northern Cyprus effectively excluded. Denktaş resigned in the wake of the vote, ushering in the pro-solutionist Mehmet Ali Talat as his successor.

[edit] Government and politics

Politics 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 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 Derviş Eroğlu who won the presidential elections on 18 April 2010. The legislature is the Assembly of the Republic, which has 50 members elected by proportional representation from five electoral districts. In the elections of April 2009, the right-leaning pro-independence National Unity Party won an overall majority.^[28]

Freedom House has classified Northern Cyprus as free in its annual reports for the last several years.^[29]

[edit] International status and foreign relations

The international community, with the exception of Turkey,^[12] does not recognise Northern Cyprus 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 Northern Cyprus as legally invalid in several of its resolutions.^[30][31]

In wake of the April 2004 referendum on the United Nations Annan Plan, and the support of the Turkish Cypriot community for the plan, the European Union made pledges towards ending the isolation of northern Cyprus. These included measures for trade and 259 million euro in aid.

In 2004, the Organization of the Islamic Conference upgraded the delegation of the Turkish Cypriot Muslim community from "observer community" (1979) to that of a constituent state with the designation "Turkish Cypriot State", making Northern Cyprus an observer member of the organization.^[32] A number of high profile formal meetings have also taken place between former President Mehmet Ali Talat and various foreign leaders and politicians including the former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the then British foreign minister, Jack Straw and former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, and between President Dervis Eroglu and Ban Ki-Moon.

The Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan) has issued a resolution recognizing Northern Cyprus' independence, but Azerbaijan has yet refrained to officially support this decision due to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.^[33]

The European Union considers the area not under effective control of the Republic of Cyprus as EU territory under Turkish military occupation and thus indefinitely exempt from EU legislation until a settlement has been found. The status of Northern Cyprus has become a recurrent issue especially during the recent talks for Turkey's membership of the EU where the division of the island is seen as a major stumbling block in Turkey's long road to membership.^[34][35]

On 18 February 2008, Northern Cyprus became one of the first nations to acknowledge the Unilateral Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Kosovo, in direct opposition to the stance of the Republic of Cyprus, which rejects the Kosovo UDI. It is argued by the Turkish and Northern Cyprus media that the independence of Kosovo could be a good model for the recognition of Northern Cyprus. It is to be stressed however that the government of Northern Cyprus has not yet formally recognized the government of Kosovo, despite President Talat's message of congratulations to Kosovo.^[36]

On 5 May 2010, Northern Cyprus became a full member of European Small Business Alliance (ESBA).^[37]

[edit] Military

Northern Cyprus has an indigenous 5,000-man Turkish Cypriot Security Force (TCSF), which is primarily made up of conscripted Turkish Cypriot males between the ages of 18 and 40. There is also an additional reserve force consisting of about 11,000 first-line, 10,000 second-line and 5,000 third-line troops conscripted up to the age of 50. The TCSF is lightly armed and heavily dependent on its mainland Turkish allies, from which it draws much of its officer corps. It is led by a Brigadier General drawn from the Turkish Army. It acts essentially as a gendarmerie charged with protection of the border of Northern Cyprus from Greek Cypriot incursions and maintaining internal security within Northern Cyprus.^[38]

In addition, the mainland Turkish Armed Forces maintain a Cyprus Turkish Peace Force (CTPF) consisting of around 30-40,000 troops drawn from the 9th Turkish Army Corps and comprising two divisions, the 28th and 39th. It is equipped with a substantial number of United States-made M48 Patton main battle tanks and artillery weapons. The Turkish Air Force, Turkish Navy and Turkish Coast Guard also have a presence in Northern Cyprus. Although formally part of Turkish 4th Army, headquartered in İzmir, the sensitivities of the Cyprus situation means that the commander of the CTPF also reports directly to the Turkish General Staff in Ankara. The CTPF is deployed principally along the Green Line and in locations where hostile amphibious landings might take place.^[38]

The presence of the mainland Turkish military in Cyprus is highly controversial, having been denounced as an illegal occupation force by the Republic of Cyprus government. Several United Nations Security Council resolutions have called on the Turkish forces to withdraw,^[16] though failed Annan Plan of 2004 allowed for some troops to remain.

[edit] Administrative divisions

Northern Cyprus is divided into five districts.

Map of Northern Cyprus	Districts	Turkish name
	Nicosia	Lefkoşa
	Famagusta	Gazimağusa
	Kyrenia	Girne
	Morphou	Güzelyurt
	Trikomo	İskele

[edit] Geography and climate

The winter in Northern Cyprus is cold and rainy, particularly between December and February, with 60% of annual rainfall.^[39] These rains produce winter torrents that fill most of the rivers, which typically dry up as the year progresses. Snow may fall on the Kyrenia Range, but seldom elsewhere in spite of low night temperatures. The short spring is characterized by unstable weather, occasional heavy storms and the "meltem", or westerly wind. Summer is hot and dry enough to turn low-lying lands on the island brown. Parts of the island experience the "Poyraz", a north-westerly wind, or the sirocco, a wind from Africa, which is dry and dusty. Summer is followed by a short, turbulent autumn.

Climate conditions on the island vary by geographical factors. The Mesaoria Plain, cut off from the summer breezes and from much of the humidity of the sea, may reach temperature peaks of 40-45 °C. Humidity rises at the Karpaz Peninsula. Humidity and water temperature (16 °C–28 °C) combine to stabilize coastal weather, which does not experience inland extremes. The Southern Range blocks air currents that bring rain and atmospheric humidity from the south-west, diminishing both on its eastern side.

[edit] Education

The education system in Northern Cyprus consists of pre-school education, primary education, secondary education and higher education. Five years of primary education is mandatory.

There are more than 40,000 university students in six universities in Northern Cyprus: Near East University, Girne American University, Middle East Technical University, European University of Lefke, Cyprus International University, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), all, except METU, established since 1974. EMU is an internationally recognised institution of higher learning with more than 1000 faculty members from 35 countries. There are 15,000 students in EMU representing 68 nationalities. The 6 universities have been approved by the Higher Education Council of Turkey. Eastern Mediterranean University and Near East University are full individual members of the European University Association.^[40] EMU is full member of Community of Mediterranean Universities, Federation Universities of Islamic World and International Association of Universities. Three universities (Istanbul Technical University, Cukurova University, Gazi University) will open campuses in Northern Cyprus in 2010. Girne American University, in the northern coastal city of Girne, opened a campus in Canterbury, United Kingdom in 2009,^[41] and accredited by the British Accreditation Council in 2010^[42]

On 13 August 2010, Northern Cyprus' Educational Sciences Association (KEB-DER) became a full member of European Educational Research Association.^[43][44]

[edit] Economy

The economy of Northern Cyprus is dominated by the services sector (69% of GDP in 2007) which includes the public sector, trade, tourism and education. Industry (light manufacturing) contributes 22% of GDP and agriculture 9%.^[45] The economy operates on a free-market basis, with a great portion funding of the administration costs offered by Turkey.

Because of its status and the embargo by the Republic of Cyprus, Northern Cyprus is heavily dependent on Turkish economic support.^[46] It uses the New Turkish Lira as its currency which links its economic status to the Turkish economy. Since the Republic of Cyprus joined the Euro zone and the relaxed movement of peoples between north and south, the Euro is also in wide circulation. Most exports and imports have to take place via Turkey unless they are produced locally from materials sourced in Cyprus (or imported via one of the island's recognised ports) when they may be exported via one of the legal ports.

The continuing Cyprus problem adversely affects the economic development of Northern Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus, as the internationally recognised authority, 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^{[citation needed]} argues that the Republic of Cyprus has used its international standing to handicap economic relations between Northern Cyprus and the rest of the world.

Despite the constraints imposed by the lack of international recognition, the economy of Northern Cyprus turned in an impressive performance in the last few years. The nominal GDP growth rates of the economy in 2001-2005 were 5.4%, 6.9%, 11.4%, 15.4% and 10.6%, respectively.^[47][48] The real GDP growth rate in 2007 is estimated at 2%.^[45] This growth has been buoyed by the relative stability of the Turkish Lira and a boom in the education and construction sectors.

Between 2002 and 2007, Gross National Product per capita more than tripled (in current US dollars):^[3]

• US$4,409 (2002)
• US$5,949 (2003)
• US$8,095 (2004)
• US$10,567 (2005)
• US$11,837 (2006)
• US$14,047 (2007, provisional)

Studies by the World Bank show that the per capita GDP in Northern Cyprus grew to 76% of the per capita GDP in the Republic of Cyprus in PPP-adjusted terms in 2004 (US$22,300 for the Republic of Cyprus and US$16,900 for Northern Cyprus).^[47][48] Official estimates for the GDP per capita in current US dollars are US$8,095 in 2004 and US$11,837 in 2006.^[3]

Although the economy has developed in recent years, it is still dependent on monetary transfers from the Turkish government. Under a July 2006 agreement, Ankara is to provide Northern Cyprus with an economic aid in the amount of $1.3 billion over three years (2006–2008).^[45] This is a continuation of ongoing policy under which Turkish government allocates around $400 million annually from its budget to help raise the living standards of the Turkish Cypriots.^[49]

The number of tourists visiting Northern Cyprus: January–August 2003: 286,901 ^[50];January–August 2006: 380,000,^[48]; 2010: 437,723^[51]

[edit] Communications and transport

International telephone calls are routed via a Turkish dialling code (+90 392) as Northern Cyprus has neither its own country code nor official ITU prefix. Similarly with the internet Northern Cyprus has no top level domain of its own and is under the Turkish second-level domain .nc.tr. Postal mail must be addressed 'via Mersin 10, TURKEY' as the Universal Postal Union does not recognise Northern Cyprus as a separate entity. Amateur radio operators sometimes use callsigns beginning with "1B", but these have no standing for awards or other operating credit.

Direct flights to Northern Cyprus and the trade traffic through the Northern Cypriot ports are restricted as part of the embargo on Northern Cypriot ports.^[52] The airports of Geçitkale and Ercan are only recognised as legal ports of entry by Turkey and Azerbaijan.^[53] The seaports in Famagusta and Kyrenia have been declared closed to all shipping by the Republic of Cyprus since 1974.^[54] By agreement between Northern Cyprus and Syria, there is a ship tour between Famagusta and Latakia, Syria. Since the opening of the Green Line Turkish Cypriot residents are allowed to trade through Greek Cypriot ports.^[55]

Naturalised citizens of Northern Cyprus or foreigners carrying a passport stamped by Northern Cyprus authorities may be refused entry by the Republic of Cyprus or Greece,^[56] 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 Northern Cyprus authorities. The Republic of Cyprus also allows passage across the Green Line from the south of Nicosia, as well as a few other selected crossing points, since Northern Cyprus does not leave entry stamps in the passport for such visits. There are seven border crossings between Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus.^[57] Since May 2004 some tourists have taken to flying to the Republic of Cyprus directly then crossing the green line to holiday in Northern Cyprus.^[58]

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Censuses

Northern Cyprus's first official census was performed in 1996. The population of the country was 200,587.^[59] The 2nd census, carried out in 2006, revealed the population of Northern Cyprus to be 265,100,^[60] of which majority is composed of indigenous Turkish Cypriots, with the rest including a large number of settlers from Turkey. Of the 178,000 Turkish Cypriot citizens, 82% are native Cypriots (145,000). Of the 45,000 people born to non- Cypriot parentage, nearly 40% (17,000) were born in Cyprus. The figure for non-citizens, including students, guest workers and temporary residents stood at 78,000 people.^[60][61] The population of Northern Cyprus' cities are: North Nicosia: 85,579; Famagusta: 64,269; Kyrenia: 62,158; Morphou: 31,116; Trikomo: 21,978.

[edit] Estimates

Estimates by the Government of Northern Cyprus: The 1983 population of Northern Cyprus was 155,521.^[62] Estimates by the government of the Republic of Cyprus from 2001 place the population at 200,000, of which 80-89,000 are Turkish Cypriots and 109,000-117,000 Turkish settlers.^[63] An island-wide census in 1960 indicated the number of Turkish Cypriots as 102,000 and Greek Cypriots as 450,000.^[64] Estimates state that 36,000 (about 1/3) Turkish Cypriots emigrated in the period 1975-1995, with the consequence that within Northern Cyprus the native Turkish Cypriots have been outnumbered by settlers from Turkey.^[63]

Northern Cyprus is almost entirely Turkish speaking. English, however, is widely spoken as a second language.

There are 644 Greek Cypriots living in Rizokarpaso (Dipkarpaz) and 364 Maronites in Kormakitis.^[65] The Greek Cypriots in Rizokarpaso agreed to live under Turkish Cypriot administration and stayed in Northern Cyprus even after the hostilities in 1974. The other Greek Cypriots in the North chose to live under Greek Cypriot administration and fled to the South; in accordance with the Population Exchange Agreement between Turkish and Greek Cypriots under the auspices of United Nations on 2 August 1975.^[26] As a result, Rizokarpaso is the home of the biggest Greek-speaking population in the North. The Greek-Cypriot inhabitants are still supplied by the UN, and Greek-Cypriot products are consequently available in some shops.

[edit] Sports

Northern Cyprus’ sportsmen have gained medals in various sports like badminton, billiards, bike, bocce, football, tennis, golf, karting, taekwando and paragliding in the world.

• Badminton Federation of North Cyprus is an observer member of World Badminton Federation and European Badminton Confederation.
• Billiards Federation of North Cyprus (BFNC) is a member of the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) (and therefore a member of the World Pool Billiard Association).^[66] The national teams of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus played each other in an international sport tournament for the first time in the 2010 European billiards championships in Kielce, Poland.^[67][68]
• Bocce Federation of North Cyprus is a member of the International Bocce Association.
• Bodybuilding and Fitness: 2010: Yakup Çavuşgil became World Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (WBFF) champion in the championship in Canada.
• EasyKart Federation of North Cyprus is a member of the International EasyKart Federation.^[69] 2008: Zeka Özteknik became International Easykart champion in 125cc.^[70]
• FootballTennis Association of North Cyprus is a member of the Federation International FootballTennis Association.^[71] Northern Cyprus placed 6th in the 9th World Footballtennis Championship^[72] The 2011 European FootballTennis Championship will be hosted by North Cyprus.^[73]
• Taekwon-do Federation of North Cyprus is a member of Global Taekwon-do Federation (GTF).^[74][75]

The swimming record from Turkey to Northern Cyprus belongs to Alper Sunaçoğlu (26h15m).^[76]

On 18 May 2010, Northern Cyprus became a member of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF).^[77]

As well as there are country-wide sport leagues in Northern Cyprus, some Northern Cyprus sport clubs are in Turkey's sport leagues (Fast Break Sport Club in Turkey's Men Basketball Regional League; Beşparmak Sport Club in Turkey's Handball 1st League; Lefka European University is in Turkey's Tabletennis Super League).

[edit] Human rights

Freedom House, a human rights organization, has classified Northern Cyprus as "free" since 2000. In "Freedom in the World 2011", both of the countries Cyprus and Northern Cyprus rated as free, and during 2007-2011 period the freedom in Northern Cyprus increased whereas decreased in Cyprus.^[78]

The constant focus on the division of the island sometimes masks other human rights issues.^[79] Prostitution is rife in both the North and the South, and the island has been criticized for its role in the sex trade as one of the main routes of human trafficking from Eastern Europe.^[80][81] The regime in Northern Cyprus has been the focus of occasional freedom of speech criticisms;^[82] World Press Freedom Index 2010 ranked Cyprus and Northern Cyprus 45 and 61 respectively.^[83] Domestic violence legislation has not yet been passed in Northern Cyprus.^[84] Male homosexuality is still criminalised in Northern Cyprus while the Republic of Cyprus was forced by the European Court of Human Rights in the Modinos v. Cyprus case to repeal a similar law, a remnant of the British colonial law which was in effect on the island.^[85]

[edit] See also

• History of Nationality in Cyprus

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• North Cyprus – a Pocket-Guide. Rustem Bookshop, Nicosia. 2006. ISBN 994496803x. 

[edit] External links

Official links

• Parliament of Northern Cyprus Republic
• Presidency, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
• Northern Cypriot Tourism Office
• TRNC Public Information Office
• TRNC Central Bank in Turkish language

Other links

• Embargo! Non-profit association campaigning against the total economic embargo imposed on the population of Northern Cyprus
• ATCA News, Association of Turkish Cypriots Abroad
• Northern Cyprus Home Page
• Northern Cyprus Guide and Daily news
• "Islamic Conference's Parliaments to Call TRNC 'Cyprus Turkish State'" JTW
• International Expert Panel for a European Solution in Cyprus
• Assembly of Turkish American Associations
• Chronology – Cyprus Issue
• Turkish Cypriots of Australia – Historical Book
• North Cyprus Times
• Northern Cyprus Almanac
• Northern Cyprus Information
• Münüse, Folk Music
• Northern Cyprus travel guide from Wikitravel
• EU task-force on Turkish Cypriot community
• Northern Cyprus a refuge for British fugitives
• Attorney-General v. Ibrahim ("Principle of necessity")
• Enforceability in England of Republic of Cyprus Judgment against purchaser of real property in Northern Cyprus: High Court of Justice, judgement of 6 September 2006, Orams v. Apostolides, [2006] EWHC 2226 (QB). A French summary of the judgement of the Cypriot court (Eparchiako Dikastirio Lefkosias, case no. 9968/04, 19 April 2005, Apostolidis v. D. and L. Orams) is available in Reflets, Informations rapides sur les développements juridiques présentant un intérêt communautaire, Nº 1/2006. A reference for a preliminary ruling has been made by the Court of Appeal to the European Court of Justice on 13 September 2007 (case C-420/07, Official Journal of the European Union, 8 December 2007, 2007/C 297/34). The opinion of advocate general Kokott was delivered on 18 December 2008 (press release). The court issued its judgment on 28 April 2009.
• Caglar v. Billingham (status and taxability of official representative in London of the Northern Cyprus government)
• Visiting Sheikh Nazim Al Haqqani

Geographic locale v · d · eSovereign states and dependent territories of Europe Sovereign states Albania · Andorra · Armenia · Austria · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greece  · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey · Ukraine · United Kingdom · Vatican City States with limited recognition Abkhazia · Kosovo · Nagorno-Karabakh · Northern Cyprus · South Ossetia · Transnistria Dependencies and other territories Denmark Faroe Islands Finland Åland Islands Norway Svalbard United Kingdom Akrotiri and Dhekelia · Gibraltar · Guernsey · Isle of Man · Jersey v · d · eMiddle East Countries and territories Middle East Bahrain · Cyprus · Egypt · Gaza Strip · Iraq · Iran · Israel · Jordan · Kuwait · Lebanon · Northern Cyprus1 · Oman · Palestine · Qatar · Saudi Arabia · Syria · Turkey · United Arab Emirates · West Bank · Yemen Greater Middle East Afghanistan · Algeria · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Djibouti · Eritrea · Georgia · Libya · Morocco · Pakistan · Somalia · Sudan · Tunisia · Western Sahara (SADR) Other topics History (timeline) · List of conflicts · Etiquette 1 Only recognized by Turkey; see Cyprus dispute.

International organizations v · d · eOrganisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Members Afghanistan · Albania · Algeria · Azerbaijan · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Benin · Burkina Faso · Brunei · Cameroon · Chad · Comoros · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Gabon · Gambia · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Indonesia · Iran · Iraq · Jordan · Kuwait · Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · Lebanon · Libya · Maldives · Malaysia · Mali · Mauritania · Morocco · Mozambique · Niger · Nigeria · Oman · Pakistan · Palestine · Qatar · Saudi Arabia · Senegal · Sierra Leone · Somalia · Sudan · Suriname · Syria · Tajikistan · Turkey · Tunisia · Togo · Turkmenistan · Uganda · Uzbekistan · United Arab Emirates · Yemen Observers Countries and territories Bosnia and Herzegovina · Central African Republic · Russia · Thailand · Northern Cyprus (as Turkish Cypriot State) Muslim communities Moro National Liberation Front International organizations Economic Cooperation Organization · African Union · Arab League · Non-Aligned Movement · United Nations

Other associations v · d · eModern Independent Turkic states      Azerbaijan  Kazakhstan  Kyrgyzstan  Northern Cyprus1  Turkey  Turkmenistan  Uzbekistan 1 Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; recognized only by Turkey; see Cyprus dispute. v · d · eTurkic topics Languages Afshar · Altay · Äynu · Azerbaijani · Bashkir · Bulgar · Chagatai · Chulym · Chuvash · Crimean Tatar · Cuman · Dolgan · Fuyü Gïrgïs · Gagauz · Hunnic · Ili Turki · Karachay-Balkar · Karaim · Karakalpak · Karamanli Turkish · Kazakh · Khakas · Khalaj · Khazar · Khorasani Turkic · Kipchak · Krymchak · Kumyk · Kypchak group · Kyrgyz · Nogai · Old Turkic · Ottoman Turkish · Pecheneg · Qashqai · Sakha · Salar · Shor · Tatar · Tofa · Turkic Avar · Turkish · Turkmen · Tuvan · Urum · Uyghur · Uzbek Peoples Ahiska · Altays · Avars · Azeris · Balkars · Bashkirs · Bulgars · Chulyms · Chuvashs · Crimean Tatars · Cumans · Dolgans · Gagauz · Huns · Iraqi Turkmen · Karachays · Karaites · Karakalpaks · Karapapak · Karluks · Kazakhs · Khakas · Khalajs · Khazars · Kimek · Kipchaks · Krymchaks · Kumandins · Kumyks · Kyrgyz · Merkits · Naimans · Nogais · Oghuz Turks · Qashqai · Salar · Shatuo · Syrian Turkmens · Tatars · Telengit · Teleuts · Tofalar · Turgesh · Turkish people (Turks in Bulgaria · Turkish Cypriots · Turks in Kosovo · Turks in the Republic of Macedonia · Turks of Romania · Turks of Western Thrace)  · Turkmens · Tuvans · Uyghur · Uzbeks · Xianbeis · Yakuts · Yugur · Qizilbash Politics Kemalist ideology · Pan-Turkism · Turanism · Turkic Council Homeland Altai Mountains · Ötüken · Turkestan States Azerbaijan · Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · TRNC1 · Turkey · Turkmenistan · Uzbekistan Autonomous republics Altai Republic · Bashkortostan · Chuvash Republic · Gagauzia · Kabardino-Balkaria · Karachay-Cherkessia · Karakalpakstan · Khakassia · Nakhchivan · Sakha Republic · Tatarstan · Tuva · Xinjiang · List of Turkic dynasties and countries Studies Old Turkic script · Proto-Turkic language · Turkish alphabet · Turkology Religions Buddhism · Christianity · Islam · Judaism · Shamanism · Tengriism  · Alevism See also Joint Administration of Turkic Arts and Culture History of the Turkic peoples 1 Is a state with limited international recognition v · d · eTurkic-speaking regions Federal subjects of Russia shown in italics.     Western Turkic  Azerbaijan1  Bashkortostan  Chuvashia  Northern Cyprus Eastern Turkic  Altai Republic  Khakassia  Kyrgyzstan  Gagauzia (Moldova)  Kabardino-Balkaria  Karachay-Cherkessia  Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan)  Sakha Republic  Tuva  Kazakhstan  Tatarstan  Turkey  Turkmenistan  Uzbekistan  Xinjiang (China)  Bayan Olgiy (Mongolia) 1 Includes the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

v · d · e Topics on Northern Cyprus  People and languages Turkish Cypriots · Turkish people · Turkic peoples · Cypriot Turkish · Gibrizlija · Turkish language · Turkic languages History Timeline · Turkish people · Turkic peoples · Prehistory · Ancient history · Medieval · Kingdom · Ottoman rule · British protectorate and modern history · Refugees · Intercommunal violence · Turkish invasion (timeline) · Annan Plan Politics and government Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) · Assembly · President · Prime Minister · Elections · Political parties · Constitution · more Foreign relations Cyprus dispute · Diplomatic missions · Embassy in Turkey · Representative Office to the United States (in New York) · Green Line · Reunification negotiations · more Economy Central Bank · Other banks · Turkish lira · Taxation · Tourism · more Military Turkish Cypriot Security Force  · Cyprus Turkish Peace Force · Conscription · more Demographics Religions · Education · Diaspora · Cities · Immigration Culture Art · Cinema · Dances · Literature · Cuisine · Music · Sport · Media · Holidays Symbols Flag · Coat of arms · National anthem Telecommunication KKTC Telecom  · KKTC Telsim · Kuzey Kibris Turkcell