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The Turkish
invasion and subsequent occupation resulted in
the following:
- Almost 36% of
the territory of the Republic of Cyprus -
i.e. the northern part of the island, where
70% of its natural resources are concentrated
- is under Turkish occupation.
- 28% of the
Greek Cypriots have been
displaced from the occupied northern
sector where they had constituted 80% of the
inhabitants.
- Greek and
Turkish Cypriots, who for 300 years had lived
together intermingled throughout the island,
were now artificially separated.
- The
ascertainment of the fate of the
missing persons is still
pending.
- By the end of
1974 about 12,000 people were enclaved in
their occupied villages living under
conditions of oppression, harassment and
deprivation. Now only 421 Greek Cypriots and
155 Maronites remain (May 2001
figures).%26nbsp;
- 35.000
Turkish soldiers, armed with the latest
weapons, are stationed in the occupied area,
making it, according to the UN
Secretary-General, "one of the most
militarised regions of the world" (S994/680/7.6.1994.par.28).
- Over 115.000
Turks have been brought over from Turkey
to
colonise the occupied area thus
changing the demography of the island and
controlling the political
situation.
- The "Attila
line" ("Operation Attila" was the code-name
Turkey gave to the invasion of Cyprus)
artificially divides the island and its
people and prevents Cypriots from moving
freely throughout their country.
- In an effort
to consolidate the de facto situation, the
"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" was
unilaterally declared in 1983 in the occupied
area, a
pseudostate recognised only by
Turkey and entirely dependent on
it.
- According to
Turkish-Cypriot newspapers, over one third of
Turkish Cypriots emigrated from the occupied
area between 1974-1995 because of the
economic and social deprivation which
prevails there. As a result the Turkish
Cypriots who remain are today outnumbered by
the Turkish troops together with the
colonists.
- The illegal
regime in the occupied area is deliberately
and methodically trying to eradicate every
trace of a 9.000 year old cultural and
historical
heritage. All Greek place-names have
been replaced by Turkish ones. Churches,
monuments, cemeteries and archaeological
sites have been destroyed, desecrated or
looted. Priceless religious and
archaeological treasures, part of the world's
cultural heritage, are being stolen and
smuggled abroad, and illegal excavations and
dealings in antiquities are taking
place.
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