River Daniel, age 13, tries to understand the Cyprus Problem

It is soon Peace and Freedom Day as some of us know, and it commemorates the day Turkish troops came to help Turkish Cypriots become independent, explaining the massive celebration for Turkish Cypriots and why many Greek Cypriots dislike the day.

My name is River Daniel and I’m trying to understand the problem between Turkish and Greek Cypriots in order to write an article for my Granddad, who owns the newspaper North Cyprus Free Press, about what happened before the 1974 war in Cyprus, what happened during that war, after the war and what could be the steps forward for Cyprus in the near future. Below are a few points of history which I have gathered so far from research.

In 1960, after the British handed over control, Cyprus tried to be a mixed republic but they only lasted three years before a civil war started between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. It seemed as if Cypriots could not live together and the fighting only seemed to stop when the two sides moved to separate sides of the island. Most Turkish Cypriots moved to the northern part of Cyprus while the Greek Cypriots now live in the southern part of Cyprus.

After Turkish Cypriots moved to the north, in 2004, they attempted to become part of the EU but the Greek Cypriots rejected the proposal by voting against it in a referendum. Now there are talks going on in an attempt to re-unite the island. Turkish Cypriots are not happy that they cannot be part of the EU on their own and be free to trade with the EU. One problem the Greek Cypriots are causing for Turkish Cypriots, which I have experienced, is that I am not allowed to fly directly from London to the north. This adds about an hour to my journey.

To finish my article I would really like you to fill in the questionnaire below and for you to give me your views on what happened to cause the Cyprus Civil War in 1963, what happened during that war, what led up the Turkish troops landing in Cyprus in 1974 and finally what would be the best way forward for all of Cyprus.

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