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Cyprus has been ruled by more than two dozen nations, by medieval knights, city states and self appointed kings during its long and turbulent history. Its rulers have always been one of the strongest powers in the region, whose rule deeply influenced the island in matters of religion, trade, culture, language, way of life and politics.

THE CYPRIOT POPULATION

In the long history of Cyprus, there has never existed a Cypriot nation. The Cypriot population is the remnant of many races who occupied and ruled Cyprus.

"... At no time has the island been a constituent part of the Hellenic Greece... That there was real racial affinity with the Hellenic stock there is nothing to prove; the anthropological evidence, so far as it goes, seems on the whole to favour the contrary view."

Sir George Hill, Cyprus History, vol IV, pp.488-89)

Since 1571-1572 in Cyprus, there has existed two distinct national peoples. One is the Cypriot Greeks as described above, the remnants of the invaders, and the other, is Turkish Cypriots, originally the ancestors of the Turks from mainland Anatolia who were settled in the island a year after the Turkish Conquest, in 1572 and the following years.

These two national peoples have lived together for more than four centuries in harmony, particularly during the Turkish period of 308 years until the chauvinistic and expansionist ` Megali Idea' aspirations of Greece inspired and encouraged the Enosis (union with Greece) Campaign which resulted in the end in the division of the island.' Consequently, since 1974, Turkish and Greek peoples of the island have been living within their separate independent states, the Greeks in the South and the Turks in the North, in peace and complete security.

OPPRESSION OF THE GREEKS

Before the Turkish Conquest in 1570-1571 , oppression of the Greek Orthodox inhabitants of Cyprus by the Catholic Latins (Lusignan and Venetian) was very severe.

(Doros Alastos, Cyprus in History, pp.151-152; Sir George Hill, the Cyprus History vol IV, pp.5-7)

During the Latin period of 380 years, (1191-1571) their autocephalous Orthodox Church was oppressed and subordinated by the ruling Latin tyrants who were Catholics. The lands and property of the Greek Orthodox Church were confiscated and given to the Roman Catholic sees. The independente Orthodox Archbishopric was totally suppressed. Orthodox churches were closed and the Greek bishops were deported to remote parts of the island.

(Hill Ibid, p.47, Ahmet Gazio§lu, the Turks in Cyprus, (London 1992) pp.3-6)

The Greek Cypriots secretly sent a delegation to the Turkish capital, Istanbul, in 1560, to ask for a Turkish conquest of Cyprus, promising the support of the local Greek population during the Turkish expedition.

(Dr. Salahi Sonyel, New Cyprus Magazine, March 1988), Gazio§lu, op.cit p.16

TURKISH TROOPS WERE GUIDED BY A GREEK PRIEST

As a matter of fact when the Turkish fleet landed Turkish troops at Salines, the port of Larnaca, on 3 July 1570 , the local Greek people had given a warm reception to the Turks. Some Greek villages, such as Lefkara sent envoys to Larnaca and offered the Turkish Army help and guidance.