Question

n this lesson, you have learned about one way that diversity has posed a challenge for the island nation of Cyprus. The Greeks and Turks who share the island have been unable to truly unite as a single nation. Instead, Greek Cypriots administrate much of the island, while a small portion in the north is run by Turkish Cypriots. What challenges must these groups overcome in order to become one united nation?

Answer 1

Since 1974 due to the issue of the Turkish military invasion and occupation of the Northern third of Cyprus, the Cyprus dispute has ben posing a challenge for the maintenance of peace in the region and attempts to unify Cyprus have failed constantly.

So far, it is hardly possible to suggest that Cyprus is one truly nation, as the Southern Greek territory and the small Northern Turkish territory are finding difficult to overcome the unification challenges.

These challenges are plentiful and multifaceted, the main ones could be summarized as:

1. Stopping the divisionist movement - the majority of Greek Cypriots supports partition, it is necessary to present them a different option.

2. Power-sharing arrangements in a unified government - there is no agreement on how power should be shared in such a divisionist society wherein a minority feel threatened by the majority.

3. Security guarantees - The Northerners demand guarantees for their security and fair participation in the society.

4. Turkish interference - There are thousands of Turkish troops currently stationed in the Northern part of the Island without any perspective of leaving and the Turkish government has become more autocratic in the past years, which fuels the conflict.