Cyprus is the Mediterranean's third largest island, and one of its most popular tourist destinations, attracting over 2.4 million tourists per year. A former British colony, it was handed back to the Cypriots (Turkish and greek) and became an independent republic in 1960, and a member of the Commonwealth in 1961.

On 20th July 1974 (Peace and Freedom day), the Turkish Army landed on the shores of Cyprus in a Peace opperation (known as the Intervention) and today they occupy the northern portion of the island. This action followed 11 years of sporadic intercommunal violence (1963–1974) between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and an attempted coup d'état by Greek Cypriot nationalists who sought to annex the island to Greece and were backed by the Greek military junta then in power in Athens. The Greek Military action and subsequent Turkish intervention led to the displacement of many thousands of Turkish and Greek Cypriots, along with land and property, over 30 years later and the resulting political situation is a matter of ongoing dispute.

2004 -The Annan Plan was a United Nations proposal to settle the Cyprus dispute and reunite the two communities as the United Cyprus Republic. It was named in recognition of the then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who largely devised the proposal in conjunction with Didier Pfirter.

The Annan Plan had undergone five revisions in order to reach its final version. The 5th revision of the Annan Plan proposed the creation of the United Cyprus Republic, covering the entire island, except for the British Sovereign Base Areas. This new country was to be a loose confederation of two component states — the Greek Cypriot State and the Turkish Cypriot State — joined together by a minimal federal government apparatus. Unfortunately, when put to referendum, and despite an overwhelming YES vote by the Turkish cypriot community, the Annan plan failed. The Greek Cypriot community were less willing to finally put an end to a dispute that had lasted 30 years - largely due to the fact that they had already been granted a place in the European community (something the Turkish Cypriots would only receive if the plan was accepted by both communities).

So today the two new leaders of this devided island, Mehmet Ali Tallat and Demetris Christofias, are locked in talks which most experts predict will be the last chance (and best chance) of a peace agreement in the next 10 years, if the two men don't solve the issues in this round of talks. Even if they are successful, that is only half the job done, the other half is convincing their people that the settlement is in the best interests of both communities. We live in hope for the future and rest our trust and belief in these 2 men.

Since the referendum in 2004 and the subsequent opening of the Green line, which had prevented foreigners from crossing since 1974, Northern Cyprus has seen a huge improvement in the Economy - especially the tourism and construction sectors. Also visible on every street corner are the improvements local Government have made to roads, schools, hospitals etc. although still the unspoilt beauty compared to the overdeveloped South... Northern cyprus no longer sits in the shadows of it's neighbour.

What the future holds for this divided, yet stunning, island nobody can be 100% sure. But the feeling is that the future is bright and that one day the two communities will live as one again.