The Turks forced most native Greek residents out, looted their homes and stole all their belongings, thus forcing all those who had the courage to stay behind, despite the fear of being slaughtered and oppressed, to seek shelter in the free areas of Cyprus within the next 18 months. Only a very small number of native Greek Cypriots has managed to remain in the occupied areas until today. These people continue to live in the Karpasia peninsula despite the inhuman living conditions and the persecutions. The occupied part of the island is proportionately the area with the highest number of troops on earth, with 35 thousand Turkish soldiers, fully equipped with the latest war means supplied by the USA. The capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, is today the only divided city in Europe.
The native Greek Cypriot lawful citizens of the occupied city of Kyrenia shall never consent to the illegal military occupation of their city by Turkey. Being refugees in their own country since 1974, they fight for their human rights:
To return back to their homes and properties and be able to live freely, safely and with dignity.
As European citizens they ask that their human rights be restored and that the European law and the European Acquis (Acquis communautaire), as well as every human principle, be part of any kind of solution of the Cyprus problem.
POPULATION CENSUSES OF THE CITY OF KYRENIA, 1878-1973
Ersi Demetriadou
The first scientific and systematic census of the population of Cyprus was carried out on April 4, 1881. However, an unofficial population census was carried out in 1878 by the British commanders. After that and every ten years, five more censuses followed, which were carried out in 1891, 1901, 1911, 1921 and in 1931. The census of 1941 coincided with WWII and for this reason it was carried out in 1946, while the last census to be carried out under British supervision was the census of December 11, 1960.
Due to the bi-communal unrest of 1963-1964 and 1967, the census that was supposed to be carried out in 1970 was conducted in 1973. The Turkish Cypriots refused to participate in this and as a result the data submitted by the statistical service on them are merely a scientific estimate. Despite any mistakes and omissions, our censuses allow us to study not only the population growth of the city, but also its economic development which is done on a more scientific basis.
POPULATION OF THE GREATER VICINITY OF KYRENIA
The villages which constitute the greater vicinity of the city of Kyrenia are Thermia, Karakoumi, Kazafani, Bellapais, Agios Epiktitos and Agios Amvrosios towards the east, while located in the west are Agios Georgios, Templos, Trimithi and Karmi. Until July 1974, when the lawful Greek Cypriot residents of the area were forced by the Turkish troops to abandon it, the Turkish Cypriots outnumbered the Greek Cypriots only in the villages of Kazafani and Templos.