  Cyprus and the European Union  Next | Previous | Table of
Contents  Paul Rowan Branford Public Schools  Stephen Armstrong
Manchester Public Schools and Central Connecticut State
University  I. A Brief History of Cyprus  Despite its ideal
geographic position as a crossroads between east and west and
its continued economic growth, conflict between Turks and Greeks
living in Cyprus dominates political and economic life in Cyprus
today. In 1974 Turkey invaded northern Cyprus after a military
coup on the island was backed by Greece. Presently, Turkish
Cypriots live in the northern third of Cyprus, while Greek
Cypriots live in the southern two-thirds of the country. Cyprus
will join the European Union in the spring of 2004. The United
Nations has unsuccessfully attempted on numerous occasions to
broker a settlement between the Greeks and the Turks in Cyprus;
at this point only the Greek Cypriot part of Cyprus will be
joining the EU next year.  Early History By 3750 BC Cyprus was
thickly settled, making it one of