Historical overview of the Turkish occupation of Karpasia

On August 17, 1974, Turkish forces entered the town of Aigialousa in the Karpasia region of Cyprus without resistance. At that time, approximately 8,000 Greek Cypriots resided in the area, a population that had grown significantly over the preceding decades, reaching over 21,000 Greek Cypriots in the broader district by 1973.

Following the occupation, these residents became known as the 'enclaved.' On August 2, 1975, the Third Vienna Agreement was signed, which stipulated that Greek Cypriots remaining in the northern part of the island were free to stay and should be provided with assistance for education, religious practice, medical care, and freedom of movement. However, sources report that Rauf Denktash systematically and deliberately violated these terms, using force to expel the enclaved Greek Cypriot population from the region.

The events left a lasting legacy of displaced persons, prisoners, and missing individuals, marking a significant shift in the demographic and political landscape of the Karpasia peninsula that continues to be remembered in the context of the historical Turkish invasion.