Ethnic groups in Cyprus

By Alexandra Fotaki

These days mark the anniversary of Turkey's Attilla II military operation, Ankara's second and decisive invasion of Cyprus in less than a month [when nearly 40 percent of the island's territory was occupied, leaving 200,000 Greek Cypriots refugees in their own homeland].

The words of my grandfather always linger in my mind.

Op-ed: Back to basics

Over 150 members of the Cypriot community in the UK have lost their lives after contracting coronavirus.

A newspaper published by the Cyprus expat community in the UK said that 95 Greek Cypriots, 55 Turkish Cypriots, and one Maronite Cypriot living in the UK have succumbed to the virus over the past few weeks.

The diaspora is, or should be, a fundamental parameter of the strength of Hellenism, whether this is rooted in Greece or in Cyprus. Some members of the diaspora inevitably stand out, mostly by virtue of their contribution.

Greek Cypriots started work on June 8 on building what has been billed as the largest casino resort in Europe costing 550 million euros ($650 million) and creating thousands of jobs on the south of the holiday island.    

The United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) says that it regrets a decision by Turkish Cypriot authorities to start imposing taxes and fees on humanitarian goods delivered to Greek Cypriots in the breakaway north of the ethnically split island.

An attack on Greek Cypriot tomb stones in the Kyrenia Christian Graveyard last week brought to the surface another embarrassing issue.

The hate crime which saw the destruction of several crosses by unknown assailants highlighted the fact that the graveyard in question has suffered from neglect and dilapidation.

Turkish Cypriots announced Wednesday that Maronites can return to the villages of Asomatos, Kormakitis and Karpasia in the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus.

Those who return will remain under Turkish-Cypriot administration. A Turkish-Cypriot committee is making the necessary preparations.

Up to 20,000 refugees from the fenced city of Varosha, and three Maronite villages in Famagusta, may be allowed to return under Turkish-Cypriot administration said Turkish-Cypriot media.

According to Turkish-Cypriot newspaper Detay, the Turkish-Cypriot and Turkish side are preparing to make unilateral steps after the collapse of the Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana.

The drilling rig West Capella is set to arrive at its designated drilling spot for hydrocarbon exploration in the Onisiforos-West 1 region of plot 11 in the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone as scheduled at 3am on Wednesday morning.

What is the number of settlers from mainland Turkey in the population of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)? Is the Turkish Cypriot community still the majority in their homeland, or has Northern Cyprus become flooded by settlers, making it a minority?