Partition
Over the next few years following the August 1975 Vienna Agreement the numbers of Greek Cypriots remaining in the North declined as can be seen by the example of Belapais.
- October 1975: The number of those who were enclaved in the village was 434 (including several people from the surrounding areas and Kyrenia)
- February 1976: The number dropped to 411
- May 1976: A further reduction to 303
- August 1976: Only 6 remain
- September 1976: There are no Greek Cypriots living in Belapais.
The situation was repeated wherever Greek Cypriots tried to remain in the Turkish controlled north.
One of the the Vienna agreement promises was that Greek Cypriots in north of the island were free to stay and would be given every help to lead a normal life, including facilities for education and for the practice of religion.
However, the Greek Cypriots remaining in the north felt a lot of pressure to move south.
There is still (in 2018) one Greek Cypriot enclave in the north.......the villagers of the Karpas who remain in Rizokarpaso (Dipkarpaz in Turkish).
At the present, there are about 350 Greek Cypriots living in a town of over 2000.
The fortunes of the Greek Cypriots living there fluctuate according to the political climate.
Greek and Turkish signs in Rizokarpaso / Dipkarpaz
Click this link for a larger image (in a new window)
The story of 1974, with the claims and counterclaims over atrocities and policies of 'ethnic cleansing', must include mention of 'the missing'.
In 2017 it was recorded that 900 Greek Cypriots and 309 Turkish Cypriots are officially still recorded as 'missing'.
(Note: In the previous ten years, 558 missing Greek Cypriots and 184 Turkish Cypriots were identified)
The Turkish vehicles left behind in Episkopi are today (2018) still waiting to be reclaimed. However, fire and theft have reduced them to burned shells slowly rusting away.
The compound of vehicles used by the Turkish Cypriot refugees to reach the safety of the WSBA in July & August 1974
A photo gallery of the vehicles and a comprehensive list of the different makes & models can be viewed by clicking this link (opens in a new window)
The two maps show the location of the Turkish Cypriot enclaves in 1964 and the division of Cyprus following the events of 1974.
Click this link or the image for a larger version
The situation is perfectly summed up as follows:
"The events of 1974 gave the political division created by the 1963-64 crisis an unambiguous physical shape. Geographically and ethnically, Cyprus was split in two".
From....Alan James, Keeping the Peace in the Cyprus Crisis 1963-64