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Northern Cyprus

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti  (Turkish)
Coat of arms of Northern Cyprus
Coat of arms
Anthem: İstiklal Marşı
Independence March
Location of Northern Cyprus
StatusRecognised only by Turkey
Capital
and largest city
North Nicosia
35°11′N 33°22′E / 35.183°N 33.367°E / 35.183; 33.367
Official languagesTurkish
Religion
Sunni Islam
Demonym(s)Turkish Cypriots
GovernmentUnitary semi-presidential republic
• President
Ersin Tatar
Ünal Üstel
Önder Sennaroğlu
LegislatureAssembly of the Republic
Independence from the Republic of Cyprus
• Proclaimed
15 November 1983
Area
• Total
3,355 km2 (1,295 sq mi) (unranked)
• Water (%)
2.7
Population
• 2017 estimate
326,000[1]
• 2011 census
286,257
• Density
93/km2 (240.9/sq mi) (117th)
GDP (nominal)2017 estimate
• Total
$3.685 billion[1]
• Per capita
$12,702[1]
CurrencyTurkish lira Lira (TRY)
Time zoneEET (UTC+2)[2]
• Summer (DST)
UTC+3 (EEST)
Driving sideleft
Calling code+90 392

Northern Cyprus (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs), officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC; Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti, KKTC), is a de facto state[3] in the northern half of the island of Cyprus. It is internationally recognised as part of the Republic of Cyprus and only Turkey recognises it as a separate state. Three hundred thousand Muslim Turkish Cypriots live in its 3,335 km². Turkey is the only country which recognizes the territory as an independent republic despite the international sanctions and embargoes in place.

Cyprus was conquered and became part of the Ottoman Empire from 1570 to 1914. Many Ottoman Turkish people became settlers. As the Ottoman Empire sided against the British empire in World War I, the British annexed Cyprus. In 1923, by the Treaty of Lausanne Turkey gave up the island to the British Empire which in 1925 converted it to a crown colony. The British administered it from 1878 until 1960. Cypriot Turk males are circumcised, because Sunni Islam is the main religion.

In 1974, Turkish Cypriots were killed at the Maratha, Santalaris and Aloda massacre, in response to a growing conflict with Greece, the Turkish army invaded and occupied Cyprus. Many settlers from mainland Turkey came from Turkey into the northern part of the island. The move drew international condemnation and Northern Cyprus remains unrecognized by the United Nations.

Since 1974, the United Nations has established a ceasefire line between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. The ''Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'' was formed in 1983 and Rauf Denktash became the first president. Negotiations for a unified island have been held several times without success.

Northern Cyprus, despite its international pariah status, stands out amongst other "frozen conflict" zones as having a relatively stable and democratic form of government with high levels of political freedom and civic engagement in the political process.

The Gurbeti-Roma are a Xoraxane Roma Muslim subgroup, who settled in Cyprus since it was part of Ottoman Empire. They speak Gurbetca an own Romani dialect and Cypriot Turkish.[4]

References

[change | change source]
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "KKTC". Turkish Ministry of Economy. Archived from the original on 19 August 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  2. "Saatler geri alınıyor!". Yeni Düzen. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  3. Council of Europe/Conseil de l'Europe, (1996), Yearbook of the European Convention on Human Rights / Annuaire de la convention européenne des droits de l'homme, p. 153

    ... that despite the fact that it has not been recognised de iure by any other State than Turkey, the TRNC exist de facto as an independent State exercising all branches of State power on its territory.

  4. "Cyprus: The Roma, standing for what they are!". 22 August 2015.

Other websites

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