Doomed to Be Divided

The Ottomans conquered Cyprus from the Venetians and the British eventually made the island one of its colonies. When the British left in 1960 the republic of Cyprus was proclaimed with a joint constitution for Greek and Turk Cypriots. This constitution had but a short history, the contradictions between Greek and Turk Cypriots grew immediately after the independence. Some Greek Cypriots were encouraged by Greek nationalist forces to demand énosis, i. e. a union between Cyprus and Greece. Some Turk Cypriots demanded taksım, supported by Turkey, a partition of the island. In 1964, United Nations stationed peacekeeping troops on the island, but their presence could not prevent the war in 1974.