Cyprus
Subject
Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Scope Note: The area had Neolithic culture by the 6th millennium BCE. It shares its name and history with the island of the same name. Independent from Britain in 1960, it has undergone armed strife between its Greek and Turkish populations. The northern Turkish part declared itself independent in 1983, but has not been recognized by the United Nations (UN). UN-led talks between the two sides to reach a settlement regarding the division of the island began in January 2002; a referendum of all Cypriots (21 April 2004) failed to reach a solution. Officially the whole of Cyprus entered the European Union (EU) on 1 May 2004, however the de facto EU border runs along the Green Line, dividing the country between the Greek and Turkish parts.The official languages are Greek and Turkish, and English is also widely spoken.