July 20 marks the 40th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
The invasion resulted in the division of the island, with Greek Cypriots living on one side and Turkish Cypriots living on the other.
Nicosia is the only divided capital city in Europe.
In recent years, an increasing number of joint projects by Cypriots on both sides of the division show that attitudes on the island are changing.
In addition to the work of ordinary citizens, meetings between the two Cypriot leaders restarted this year, adding to the feeling that 2014 could be a make or break year for Cyprus.
There is not a lot of optimism about the talks, however, as they will have to tackle complicated and emotional historical issues.
Arguably the biggest sticking point is the complicated issue of how to return property to people on both sides, including the much loved abandoned town of Varosha in Famagusta province, or compensate them for officially giving up their rights to their property or land. For the Greek Cypriots there is also resistance when it comes to allowing Turkish troops to remain on the island.
The UN continues to extend its peacekeeping mandate to stay on the island, renewing it every six months. Peacekeepers have been there since 1964, making it one of the longest-running UN peacekeeping missions in the world.
As part of Al Jazeera’s special focus on the divided island of Cyprus we have commissioned a special poll of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities on how they view the future of their island. The poll was conducted among a representative sample of over 500 people in each community.
There have been numerous attempts to broker a peace deal, but the leaders of both sides have started meeting again and agreed to a joint declaration based on the vision of a new federal Cyprus. But as our poll shows, while there may be a new willingness for living together, people have little faith in politicians. Overcoming 40 years of division and mutual lack of trust remains an enormous challenge.
Do you think Cyprus will ever be reunited in your lifetime?
1
Can Greek and Turkish Cypriots live together?
2
Do you think the latest talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders will be successful?
3
How happy will you be with a Cyprus solution made up of two federal states?
4
Can the discovery of natural gas in Cyprus help solve the Cyprus problem?
6
To what extent should Greece and Turkey be involved in Cypriot affairs?
7
North
South
12%
Definitely yes
27%
Maybe yes
39%
58%
51%
48%
3%
DK/NA
30%
Maybe no
28%
Definitely no
Definitely yes
14%
Maybe yes
37%
DK/NA
1%
Maybe no
11%
Definitely no
37%
The country was divided in 1974 following the invasion of Turkish troops. Nicosia is the only divided capital in Europe today.
North
South
33%
Definitely yes
35%
Maybe yes
69%
31%
52%
47%
1%
DK/NA
15%
Maybe no
16%
Definitely no
Definitely yes
19%
Maybe yes
33%
DK/NA
1%
Maybe no
11%
Definitely no
36%
The Turkish invasion came after a Greek coup d’etat. The 40-year division, with Turkish Cypriots in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south, has led to strife between the two communities.
Does Cyprus still need the UN peacekeepers?
5
North
South
53%
Definitely yes
27%
Maybe yes
80%
19%
52%
47%
1%
DK/NA
10%
Maybe no
9%
Definitely no
Definitely yes
1%
Maybe yes
51%
DK/NA
1%
Maybe no
28%
Definitely no
19%
Peacekeepers maintain a “green zone” between the two territories and have had a presence on the island since 1964, making it one of the UN’s longest-running peacekeeping missions.
North
South
59%
Will help solve the problem
6%
Will not affect the problem
59%
30%
50%
14%
29%
6%
4%
DK/NA
30%
Will have a negative affect on the problem
Will help solve the problem
50%
Will not affect the problem
29%
Will have a negative affect on the problem 14%
DK/NA
6%
The Aphrodite gas field, off the coast of the island, could pave the way to improving the economy and easing unemployment worries in both communities.
North
South
11%
Better to be more involved
46%
Decisions should be left to Greek and Turkish Cypriots
11%
40%
16%
23%
57%
46%
2%
DK/NA
40%
Better not to be involved at all
Better to be more involved
16%
Decisions should be left to Greek and Turkish Cypriots
57%
Better not to be involved at all
23%
DK/NA
4%
The division of Cyprus is often seen as a sticking point between Greece and Turkey.
North
South
4%
Definitely yes
17%
Maybe yes
20%
74%
35%
60%
5%
DK/NA
37%
Maybe no
37%
Definitely no
Definitely yes
4%
Maybe yes
31%
DK/NA
5%
Maybe no
21%
Definitely no
39%
The talks will have to cover a variety of issues that both sides feel strongly about, such as the return of property and lands to people on both sides.
North
South
7%
Very happy
22%
Rather happy
29%
64%
75%
20%
5%
DK/NA
28%
Not very happy
36%
Not at all happy
Very happy 32%
Rather happy 43%
DK/NA
5%
Not very happy
8%
Not at all happy
12%
The Turkish community has historically been more in favour of two federal states than the Greek community – which has traditionally demanded full reunification of the island.